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Farm Service Agency May Help Producers Recover Losses From Winter Storms

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  • Farm Service Agency May Help Producers Recover Losses From Winter Storms

    Freeze Damage to Florida's Oranges
    This year?s weather has presented some challenges for Florida?s citrus growers. In December, sub-freezing temperatures hit the citrus-growing region in the state, threatening this year?s citrus crops, which account for more than half of all citrus production in the United States.

    To measure the cold weather?s effect on citrus crops in Florida, on Jan. 10-11 USDA?s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) representatives visited 240 orange groves and 90 grapefruit groves across Florida?s citrus producing region. These crews went to randomly selected trees to cut and score fruit to determine the extent of freeze damage. In each selected grove, two pieces of fruit were selected from each of four trees...

    NASS found evidence of freeze damage in about 28 percent of the early season and midseason oranges and 13 percent of the late season varieties. For early and midseason oranges, 12 percent had damage at the center cut (the most serious damage). Just over two percent of the late season oranges had damage at the center cut. For grapefruit, only three percent of the tested fruit were damaged. Less than one percent of the grapefruit had center cut damage.


    Mix of Snow and Ice in Midwest and Northeastern Parts of Nation Could Cause Serious Harm to Livestock
    "With some pasture and forage areas destroyed with the remnants of what has been labeled ?Snowmageddon,? many producers also are losing their animals to cold and hypothermia, and are seeking ways to help recuperate their losses.

    ...We need producers to document the number and kind of livestock that have died as a direct result of these winter storms and timely notify their local FSA office of these losses. There may be situations where producers are transporting feed to their livestock. Producers should document these additional costs.

    Several programs that include the Livestock Indemnity Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program are offered through the Farm Service Agency to help producers recover from livestock deaths and loss of forage and food supplies due to emergency situations.

    The Livestock Indemnity Program provides assistance to producers for livestock deaths caused by adverse weather conditions including blizzards and extreme cold.

    Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock that suffered losses due to adverse weather conditions. This program covers losses not covered by other FSA programs such as the Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Payment program, Livestock Indemnity and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance program.

    We encourage all who fear they may have losses because of conditions that are still developing to read the fact sheets and visit with their local FSA county office staff so they get a quick start in the recovery process.

    For producers looking to sell or buy hay, USDA offers an online service called Hay Net that matches producers with hay to those who need hay. The site is secure and protects the privacy of individuals."
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