Mitch Landrieu: “two months ago, I joined my colleagues in requesting assistance for our Nation's farmers in Louisiana and other parts of…”

“two months ago, I joined my colleagues in requesting assistance for our Nation's farmers in Louisiana and other parts of the Nation who are on the brink of bankruptcy. Not because they are bad farmers but as a result of natural disasters and prices that they cannot control. In Louisiana, farmers are experiencing the most severe agriculture disaster it has been subjected to in the last 100 years. The Louisiana State University (LSU) Agricultural Center has estimated crop losses at $391 million. When losses due to aflatoxin in corn and livestock losses are added, the State is projecting escalated losses of $450 million. If no effective disaster relief is provided, Louisiana will lose 35-40 percent of its farmers. Without these farmers the State projects that its economy will lose an additional $1 billion. Mr. President, this is a very serious situation, one that warrants an effective solution for the disaster situation facing the South and the income losses facing the Midwest. For Louisiana, relief needed is twofold: One, production loss related to the drought and heat and two, economic. For other areas, income loss assistance needed is different. The major problem in providing equitable relief is that while the Midwest has bumper crops and no price, the South has no crops and no price.”