Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Congressman Ross Meets With Farmers, Agencies

Congressman Mike Ross faces the first emergency in his district following the snow and ice storms which concluded 2000 and which started 2001.

Ross met with representatives from the agriculture field in a special meeting Tuesday, January 16 at the First United Methodist Church in Prescott.

Representatives from Arkansas Farm Bureau, Arkansas Timber Producer's Association, Ouachita National Forest, University of Arkansas Extension Service, Farm Service Agency (formerly FmHA), FEMA and the Department of Forestry Services met with not only Ross but several farmers from throughout Ross' district.

Ross told everyone present the meeting was to gather information, hopefully get it out to residents and see what needs to be changed.

"Washington forgets that business is more than brick and mortar," Ross told the group. "It is also farmers, ranchers and producers."

Opening a line of conversation is what is necessary now to help farmers throughout the district, Ross told the group. 22 of the 26 counties Ross represents have been declared a disaster by state and federal officials.

Ross was able to learn what most farmers (and all those present) already knew  help is severely limited coming from governmental agencies following an ice and snow disaster.

Assistance being offered now, according to one farmer from Seiver County, is only for those who do not pay their bills and are unable to get a line of credit locally.

While FSA, USDA and other farm related agencies have programs to help farmers, the rules and regulations are so legalistic, according to those present, that many farmers and agencies are afraid to use the assistance.

It was noted during the meeting that agriculture is going down in this country due to the fact there are no markets overseas, there is too much production, there is a strong global economy and other nations have defaulted on their loans which have lowered prices for exports from those areas.

Ross concluded from the meeting that programs need to be adjusted for immediate usage after a disaster and that most programs are outdated for modern farmers.

Ross noted, "There is no quick fix, but I recognize changes need to be made in Washington to ease the regulations following the types of storms we have had."