For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, January 18, 2005

WASHINGTON D.C - U.S. Representative Dan Boren late yesterday called upon the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to open up assistance to all Oklahoma farms damaged by wildfires.  Due to a technicality in federal regulations, many Oklahoma farmers are currently ineligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program because some fires did not occur naturally.   

 

In a letter to John Johnson, Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, Boren asked FSA to make an exception for Oklahoma farmers since it were natural conditions – drought and high winds – that caused the fires to proliferate.

 

“A cigarette butt doesn’t burn down 40,000 acres without some help from nature,” Boren said. 

 

“I’ve heard from a number of constituents and local officials that this assistance is badly needed for farmers, not only in Eastern Oklahoma, but across the state,” Boren said. 

 

The Emergency Conservation Program provides natural disaster assistance to farmers for certain immediate needs such as rebuilding fences and repairing water sources for livestock.  Farmers would apply for the assistance through their county FSA office and, if approved, could receive up to 75 percent cost-share assistance. 

 

“This aid would provide a valuable supplement to farmers who are trying to salvage their livestock operations,” Boren said. 

 

“Estimates put the number of homes and businesses destroyed at 250, and that’s likely to go up as damage assessments continue. It’s imperative that farms impacted by this disaster not be overlooked,” Boren said.

 

On January 10, Oklahoma received a major disaster declaration from President Bush, making 12 counties eligible for individual assistance though the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Last week, Boren asked Acting FEMA Director David Paulison to add all affected counties to the list for aid. 

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