Farming communities in California and across the U.S. are navigating recovery from recent natural disasters. In response, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), alongside Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), and Austin Scott (R-Ga.), have introduced legislation designed to enhance access to federal agriculture disaster programs.
The current U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy restricts payments to growers with a combined farm and nonfarm adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeding $900,000. This policy largely excludes specialty crop growers, including those cultivating strawberries in California or apples in North Carolina, from accessing disaster relief.
The proposed Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act seeks to remove the AGI cap for producers who derive 75% of their income from farming, ranching, or related activities. This adjustment aims to provide these producers with better access to essential disaster relief initiatives.
This legislative action coincides with the USDA's efforts to distribute $21 billion in agricultural disaster assistance, approved by Congress in December, for those affected by 2023 and 2024 natural disasters, including Tropical Storm Hilary. It also precedes the looming deadline for Congress to renew the Farm Bill, which is set to expire later this year.
Senator Padilla highlighted the ongoing challenges: "From wildfires and drought damaging our farmland to storms flooding our fields, growing conditions for farmers in California and across the country are facing unprecedented impacts from natural disasters." He emphasized the importance of the legislation for specialty crop growers seeking federal disaster aid.
Senator Tillis noted the relevance for North Carolina farmers, stating, "North Carolina farmers are all too familiar with natural disasters and the barriers to access disaster relief programs." He expressed support for the bipartisan effort to expand disaster relief access.
Representative Panetta remarked on the impact of assistance barriers: "Barriers to assistance programs for our farmers and ranchers can hold back the recovery of rural economies after natural disasters." He advocated for the legislation as a measure to bolster the agricultural safety net.
The Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act proposes to waive AGI limitations for several disaster programs, including the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
Source: AG Daily