U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe sent a letter to the acting Administrator of the Farm Services Agency at the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging him to grant Northern Maine farmers their requested emergency funding to repair devastating crop damage caused by the recent storms in Aroostook County.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services Agency officials in Maine have requested $500,000 through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to help the approximately 50 farmers who were affected by the recent storms. The heavy rains and severe weather caused top soil in many fields to be completely washed away, which dramatically reduces the productive yield of acreage and can potentially reduce the value of that farm land.
"The potato industry is the backbone of the northern Maine economy supporting hundreds of jobs and many more during the harvest season," said Senators Collins and Snowe in the letter. "By providing ECP money to help farmers repair the damage to their fields, the funding could stimulate the economy as farmers hire workers to operate equipment and purchase fuel through local distributors. Given the effects of the recent rain, the damage caused, and the importance of this industry to the local economy, we ask that you give an expedited review to the request for ECP funding for these farmers."
The full text of the letter is as follows:
June 21, 2011
Mr. Bruce Nelson
Acting Administrator
Farm Service Agency
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C., 20250
Dear Administrator Nelson:
I am writing in support of the request for Emergency Conservation Program funding by the farmers in northern Maine who sustained severe erosion in their fields due to recent heavy rains. USDA-FSA officials in Maine have filed an application for $500,000 in ECP funding for approximately 50 affected farmers.
The severe weather experienced in Aroostook County this month has resulted in the loss of crops and top soil. In fact, some fields have had the majority of the top soil completely washed away. As you know, the loss of top soil can be much more serious than a crop loss, dramatically reducing the productive yield of acreage and potentially reducing the value of this farm land.
The potato industry is the backbone of the northern Maine economy supporting hundreds of jobs and many more during the harvest season. Maine potato farmers planted nearly 55,000 acres in 2010, with a yield of 29,000 pounds per acre, for a harvest of 1.6 billion pounds with a value of $159.2 million. By providing ECP money to help farmers repair the damage to their fields, the funding could stimulate the economy as farmers hire workers to operate equipment and purchase fuel through local distributors.
Given the effects of the recent rain, the damage caused, and the importance of this industry to the local economy, we ask that you give an expedited review to the request for ECP funding for these farmers. Please give this request every consideration, subject to all applicable laws and regulations.
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