“It’s time to cut through the red tape and get the assistance Congress approved in 2008 to the producers in Montana who need it,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “When you need rapid emergency response, business as usual in Washington, D.C. just doesn’t work.  Producers across six impacted counties are at risk, and I’m going to do whatever I can to throw them a life-preserver while there’s still time.”

In his letter, Rehberg expressed concern that the slow clearance process for the Livestock Indemnity Program was negatively impacting producers in Powder River, Carter, Big Horn, Custer, Rosebud and Fallon counties in Montana, where producers have lost more than 4,000 head.

Rehberg also urged immediate approval of the National Disaster Determination that was requested by Governor Brian Schweitzer for the impacted counties.  This approval would make those producers eligible for low-interest disaster loans.

“The slow federal response has created uncertainty that has a wide-ranging impact,” said Rehberg.  “I’m hopeful this issue can be quickly and satisfactorily addressed.”

LETTER:

May 12, 2009

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Ave, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

I am writing to request your immediate attention to an area of Montana devastated by recent winter storms.  In southeastern Montana, while many producers were in the midst of calving and lambing, severe losses of livestock occurred due to heavy snow and fierce winds. The value of the 4,000-plus head of livestock that died in two separate storms could exceed $1 million.

The 2008 Farm Bill’s Livestock Indemnity Program offers available help to these producers. This program compensates producers for livestock losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather that occurred on or after January 1, 2008 and before October 1, 2011. However, this program is not up and running because it is moving slowly through the clearance process. I urge you to immediately provide emergency implementation of the Livestock Indemnity Program to impacted producers in Powder River, Carter, Big Horn, Custer, Rosebud and Fallon counties in Montana.

I also urge your immediate approval of the National Disaster Determination requested by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer for the impacted counties. This designation would make the producers in this area eligible for low-interest disaster loans.

These producers are now faced with the tremendous burden of being unable to recoup their losses as they won’t have these animals to sell in the fall. Expediting these programs will give relief to these producers when they need it most.

I appreciate your consideration of my request and if you have any questions please feel free to contact my staff, Mary Heller at 202-225-3211.

Sincerely,