U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) continues working to support North Dakota farmers and ranchers recovering from an early snowfall and other natural disasters, most recently by holding a meeting in Minot, N.D., with a Risk Management Agency official to ensure crop insurance claims are quickly handled.
Sen. Hoeven met on Monday with North Dakota producers and Martin Barbre, the administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), the entity that manages the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. The senator is urging the RMA to help crop insurance adjustors as they assess damage from the severe weather events in North Dakota and help resolve disputes.
“We worked to fund crop insurance because farmers need the certainty it provides, which is why we’re urging the RMA to ensure insurance claims are handled properly and disputes are settled quickly,” Sen. Hoeven said. “This is especially important considering the added challenges our producers face this year from trade uncertainty and natural disasters.”
On top of supporting crop insurance, the senator has also focused his efforts on trade and disaster assistance. Sen. Hoeven helped secure approval of North Dakota’s request for a disaster designation for 47 counties, and has worked with the administration to provide disaster funding under the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). In addition, the senator is working with the USDA to have Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments quickly distributed, the senator’s office said.
“We are working to provide assistance under MFP and WHIP+ as soon as possible, which will help farmers maintain their operations as they recover from a delayed harvest and other impacts,” said Sen. Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.
Last week in North Dakota the senator hosted Bill Northey, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, so he could see the impact of the natural disasters and hear from local producers.