With Missouri farmers and ranchers facing significant challenges caused by the current drought, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) is providing ways to help them access information and resources needed to help mitigate and recover losses. 
 
Luetkemeyer is making information available on his official website that can assist those affected by the drought, including programs through USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Luetkemeyer’s website can be found at /. In addition to providing information about federal resources, the website also includes links to the U.S. Drought Monitor at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/monitor.html and the State of Missouri drought site at http://mda.mo.gov/drought/.
 
“As a farmer, I understand the difficult challenges being faced by farmers and ranchers throughout the 9th District and it is imperative that we provide them with access to the resources they need to deal with conditions created by this devastating drought,” Luetkemeyer said. “With every county in Missouri now facing problems with the drought, it’s important to provide information and resources that are needed to help these farmers and ranchers.”

All 25 counties in the 9th District are affected by the drought and they are: Adair, Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Knox, Lewis, Macon, Maries, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Osage, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles and Warren.

Both the House and Senate version of the 2012 Farm Bill retroactively reauthorize supplemental disaster assistance programs for agriculture that expired in September 2011.  These programs are by and large the only safety net available for ranchers in the event of a disaster, making the passage of the 2012 Farm Bill vital for livestock operations that are being affected by the drought. To this end, Luetkemeyer, along with 78 Members of Congress, recently sent a letter to House Leadership urging action on the House Farm Bill.

Earlier this month, Luetkemeyer joined the Missouri delegation in asking Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to approve the State of Missouri’s request for a disaster declaration in all 114 of Missouri’s counties due to the historic drought, a request that was subsequently approved by USDA.