Vilsack Says USDA is Still Assessing Hurricane Ida Damage, Outlines Possibilities for Disaster Aid

USDA is partnering with FEMA and other disaster-focused organizations to try and help producers dealing with damage from Hurricane Ida.

The hurricane- along with aid to producers -  was a big topic of the Farm Journal Farm Country Update Virtual Town Hall Meeting with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday. AgDay host and Farm Journal editor Clinton Griffiths asked Vilsack what the agency is doing directly to help farmers impacted by the storm and when additional aid may be on the way. 

"Well, first of all, we're assessing the damage, and we obviously have staff on site," Vilsack told Griffiths on Thursday. "We haven't had a chance fully and completely access the damaged areas. So, we don't have all the details and all the information we need to be able to assess precisely what needs to be done. But the President has made a major disaster declaration for Louisiana, an emergency declaration for for Mississippi. That begins the process of opening up potential assistance in terms of disaster loans. There may very well be follow-up if governors request, or if our teams on the ground are able to document, there may be additional secretarial designations of specific counties that have been significantly impacted. That, too, would open up opportunities." 

Initial assessment of the area indicates some portions of Louisiana could be without power for weeks, possibly a month. This week, major export elevators such as Cargill confirmed a direct hit to facilities, citing "significant damage."

From disaster aid for hurricane victims, to help for producers in hit by wildfires this year, you can watch more of Farm Journal's Farm Country Update here. 

AgDay will take a deeper dive with highlights from the event as part of an AgDay Special Report on Friday, August 24th.