News Release

The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved over $600 million in disaster assistance for farmers and producers across the U.S. The disaster assistance includes a Crop Assistance Program, a Lost Poultry Contract Assistance Program and an Aquaculture Grant Program.

"We continue to do everything we can to provide assistance and necessary tools for our state's agriculture producers. This funding will help many farmers across the state recover from challenging weather conditions during 2009," said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler.

USDA's Crop Assistance Program is offering $550 million to farmers nationwide that suffered at least a five percent loss of crop in 2009. Eligible commodities for the assistance program include upland cotton, rice, soybeans and sweet potatoes. Missouri counties eligible for the assistance includes Adair, Caldwell, Carroll, Cedar, Crawford, Daviess, DeKalb, Dunklin, Gentry, Harrison, Knox, Laclede, Marion, Mercer, Mississippi, Montgomery, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Phelps, Pulaski, Ripley, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Warren and Worth.

USDA will also provide up to $60 million in grant money to poultry producers that were affected by a loss of contract due to the bankruptcy of an integrator in December 2009. Up to $20 million in grant money is being offered to farm-raised aquaculture producers in need of assistance due to high feed input costs in 2009.

All farmers who may be eligible for these programs are urged to contact their local Farms Services Agency office for further information. For more information on USDA's disaster assistance programs, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=diap&topic=landing.