2006 Drought Assistance and Recovery News
Grant Program to Help With Drought Losses
Texas will receive $16.1 million through a federal livestock assistance program to help producers recover from losses incurred during the ongoing drought. According to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, the funds will provide dollars to Texas producers. These funds will be available to 216 counties that suffered forage production losses. Payments will be limited to $10,000.
More information about the Livestock Assistance Grant Program will be forthcoming from the Texas Department of Agriculture. The TDA can be contacted via phone at (800) TELL-TDA (800-835-5832) or online at www.agr.state.tx.us.
Tax Break Offered for Cattlemen Hit Hard by 2006 Drought
According to the Internal Revenue Service Officials, ranchers that have been forced to sell cattle due to drought conditions will not have to pay capital gains taxes for a full year, after the dry conditions end.
Previous legislation allowed ranchers four years to replace cattle before capital gain taxes would take effect. The new legislation will allow ranchers time to fully recover from the 2006 drought.
Click here for more information. USDA News
USDA MISCALCULATES KANASAS CATTLE DROUGHT ASSISTANCE
A miscalculation will mean $3.8 million fewer drought assistance dollars for Kansas ranchers. The United States Department of Agriculture has apologized for the miscalculation, which will hit Kansas ranchers the hardest. Originally promised $4.78 million, due to losses incurred by the 2006 drought, the Kansas ranchers will now have to make due with only $948,511. Arizona and Wyoming will also have to make due with about $250,000 for each of those states.
USDA EXTENDS EMERGENCY GRAZING ON CRP ACRES IN 30 STATES
On Friday, September 15, United States Department of Agriculture Mike Johanns extended the window for emergency livestock grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for farmers and ranchers who have been impacted by the 2006 drought.
“Extremely dry weather conditions have created real hardships for farmers and ranchers in many parts of the country this year," said Johanns. "This emergency relief measure will provide feed and forage to producers who have lost hay stocks and grazing lands because of drought."
The 30 eligible states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.Click here to read more.
Off the Hoof Cattle News
BRITISH FARMERS WITHOUT COMPENSATION FOR CATTLE INJURED BY LOW FLYING FIGHTER JETS
Low flying fighter jets have been linked to cattle losses in the Great Britain, but some farmers are left out in the cold when applying for damages. Most of the claims were for aborted calves, but some claims were for physical damage. Click here for more information.
DNA THE LINK IN SCOTTISH CATTLE RUSTLING CASE
A Scottish man, John Taylor, 65, has been convicted of rustling cattle from his brother, swapping ear tags and then selling them. DNA tests showed that cows were related to some of his brothers stock. Taylor was fined the equivalent of $12,800.
E-Trails Note: Send your interesting news and ideas to - Cole@tlbaa.org.
-Cole Dowden
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