Urges Congress to move on Farm Bill and address Disaster Relief Programs [see schedule below]

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will be touring four counties in Southern Iowa on SATURDAY, July 21st.  These four counties were recently approved for emergency farm loans because of the recent lack of rain and severe heat in the area and in Missouri.  Loebsack will tour farms, talk with officials from FSA offices and meet with local Farm Bureau and community members in Southern Iowa counties, including Appanoose, Davis, Lee and Wayne.  Reports have said this is the worst drought in Iowa since 1988.

Earlier today, Loebsack joined a bipartisan group of 62 lawmakers in calling on House leadership to bring a Farm bill to the floor before it expires on September 30th.  In addition, Loebsack urged Speaker of the House John Boehner and the leader of the House Agriculture Committee to address the expiration of critical USDA disaster relief programs when the Farm Bill is brought to the floor. Loebsack has also asked the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, to determine whether or not he has the authority to extend the SURE program or the Livestock Indemnity Program for 2012 if Congress is unable to complete a reauthorization of the farm bill. He also urged the USDA to consider emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program land in Iowa when appropriate.

Throughout the past year, Loebsack has been traveling across Iowa on a Rural Economic Tour to visit farms and businesses to hear firsthand about the needs of rural Iowans.  While visiting these farms, Loebsack will also be discussing his call for disaster-loss programs for crops and livestock to be extended in the farm bill to cover this crop year.

“With no end in sight to the hot weather and lack of rain, crops and livestock across Iowa will continue to be adversely affected,” said Loebsack.  “I am ready to work alongside these farmers assisting in any way necessary.”

Loebsack Tour of Drought Stricken Areas

Lee County  9:45am
Steve Newberry’s farm
1712 300th Street
Argyle

Davis County  12:15pm
Roger Porter’s Farm
18413 Lilac Ave.
Bloomfield

Appanoose County  2:15pm
Dan Furlin, Jr.’s Farm
14496 Hwy J46
Numa

Wayne County  3:45pm
Tim Runyon’s Farm
2243 Hwy S40 (From Highway 2, turn south at the Case IH dealership that is just east of Corydon. Go south on S40 approx. 2.5 miles)
Allerton