Dept. of Ag says report storm, heat damage
July 12, 2012 ·
Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass is urging farmers to report any storm-related losses to their local Farm Service Agency offices, and to keep detailed records of any livestock or bee losses related to heat or storms.
The Farm Service
Agency doesn't have a program for livestock or bees, but the Department of
Agriculture’s communications officer, Buddy Davidson says farmers should still
keep records of any losses.
“This is a Farm
Bill year. The federal farm bill is being debated in Congress right now and
what we’re hearing is that there might be a possibility of there being some kind
of program in there for drought losses that are being incurred this year.”
Davidson says that while there haven’t been any abnormal losses
reported, three quarters of the state continues to report below average topsoil
moisture.
West Virginia FSA Director Alfred Lewis said that records should include
dates, numbers, cause of death and witnesses. He added that in past Farm Bills,
livestock used for recreation, pleasure, hunting, shows, or as pets were not
eligible for programs.
A list of West Virginia local FSA
contact information is available at www.wvagriculture.org. For more
information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov.