Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act Reintroduced

U.S. Senators John Thune, of South Dakota, and New Mexico's Ben Ray Luján recently reintroduced a bill to assist agricultural producers after adverse weather events.  The Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act directs the USDA to improve the accuracy of the U.S. Drought Monitor, which factors into disaster programs.

"I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation that would make the Drought Monitor a more effective tool and help ensure USDA programs are using accurate and consistent data in administering programs that are designed to help the agriculture community," said Thune.

“Drought, wildfires, and extreme weather are making it harder for New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers to care for livestock, grow crops, and support our communities,” Luján added. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to help farmers and ranchers get the support they need when disaster strikes.  USDA programs must respond faster and more effectively to provide the relief New Mexicans deserve. This legislation will help our agricultural producers weather the impacts of extreme weather and disasters and keep contributing to our economy and food security.”

Some of the information from the legislation would include clarifying state and federal grazing permit holders who are eligible for the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program.  One example would be the Farm Service Agency, which waives the 30-day public comment period for Bureau of Land Management National Environmental Policy Act applications during a drought emergency. Another area was the BLM accepting archeological reviews completed by Natural Resource Conservation Service field staff during a drought emergency.

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