Easing of Rules Will Aid Farmers in Qualifying for Disaster Relief

The Agriculture Department announced Friday that it has revised its rules for a new flood-drought disaster program so that more farmers will be able to qualify for assistance.

The department’s final rules for the $400-million assistance package approved by Congress will allow farmers in disaster-stricken areas of the South and Midwest to qualify for up to $100,000 each in aid if they lost at least 50% of one of their crops.

The agency’s interim rules had stated that farmers of crops not covered by government subsidies, known as non-program crops, would be able to qualify for aid only if they lost 50% of all crops, rather than just half of any one commodity.

The department also agreed in its final rules to compensate farmers for a drop in the quality of their non-program crops, rather than assessing only losses in the quantity of their harvest as the agency originally proposed.

The interim rules had drawn stiff criticism from residents and members of Congress from Michigan, who argued that thousands of flood-stricken farmers in the state would be denied assistance under the department’s plan.

Agriculture Undersecretary Daniel Amstutz said the agency had been vigorously urged to change its rules by Michigan farm advocates and chose to respond to those concerns.