P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

August 13, 2012

1 Min Read
More Drought Assistance Available

The Obama Administration announced additional drought assistance for livestock producers in response to the drought.  USDA will provide nearly $16 million in financial and technical assistance to immediately help crop and livestock producers in 19 states.  USDA will transfer $14 million in unobligated program funds into the Emergency Conservation Program.  These funds can be used to assist in moving water to livestock, provide emergency forage for livestock and to rehabilitate lands severely impacted by the drought.  The National Credit Union Administration will allow an additional 1,000 credit unions to increase their lending to small businesses.  These credit unions are eligible for a low-income designation, which permits unlimited lending to small business owners, including farmers.  The Department of Transportation (DOT) will provide emergency waivers for federal truck weight regulations and hours of service requirements to drought-stricken communities.  President Obama convened the White House Rural Council to review response actions and to develop additional policy initiatives to assist drought stricken areas.  He asked all areas of the federal government to look at further steps it can take to “ease the pain of this historic drought.”

 

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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