In Response to Flooding in Northern Wisconsin, Baldwin Urges USDA to Make Disaster Assistance Available to Wisconsin Farmers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make disaster assistance available to Wisconsin farmers impacted by the severe storms and subsequent flooding this summer. In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Baldwin urged the USDA to issue a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Ashland, Bayfield and Iron Counties in Wisconsin so farmers in northern Wisconsin can receive disaster assistance.
“Many fields in Ashland, Bayfield and Iron Counties were flooded or saturated for extended periods of time during the growing season, damaging row crops, alfalfa and specialty crops, wrote Senator Baldwin. “Producers impacted by these unexpected damages are already coping with low market prices and the strains they place on farmers’ ability to operate through major losses. Therefore, I ask that you make disaster assistance available as quickly as possible to Wisconsin farmers.”
In July, Senator Baldwin traveled to northern Wisconsin with the Wisconsin National Guard to tour areas most effected by the flooding. After witnessing sections of highways and roads that had been destroyed, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Foxx urging emergency federal funds to repair and reopen roads. As a result, Secretary Foxx announced Emergency Relief (ER) funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help repair roads.
Senator Baldwin also sent a letter to the President, supporting a federal disaster declaration for Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Sawyer and Washburn counties in Wisconsin. On August 9th, President Obama issued a disaster declaration and ordered federal aid to supplement recovery efforts.
A copy of the letter Senator Baldwin sent to Secretary Vilsack is available here.
