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SC Farmers Need Congressional Help to Stay in BusinessColumbia, SC - The South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation sponsored a meeting before the holidays to encourage South Carolina’s congressional delegation to lead the way in passing legislation to provide drought assistance to the state’s farmers without jeopardizing current farm programs. Farmers from around the state and representatives of major commodity organizations told second district Congressman Joe Wilson and representatives from other state congressional delegation offices that they need federal disaster assistance in order to continue to operate their farms in the future. The new federal farm bill passed by congress this year provides loan payments when prices drop, but it does not offer any assistance in the wake of droughts, floods or other natural disasters. South Carolina has suffered from a severe drought for the past four years causing many farmers to lose money from low (or non-existent) yields in an already depressed farm economy. Wilson told the group that he has co-sponsored a bill to provide federal drought relief, “I realize that South Carolina has been hit harder than any other state. If we don’t provide some type of relief soon we’ll see hard working farm families forced to go out of business.” Clemson University agricultural economist Charlie Curtis said, “The drought this year has created a negative impact of $250 million on the state’s economy – a total of more than one billion dollars over the past four years. The future is bleak, we will see the number of abandoned farm acres continue to grow, yields will continue to suffer and prices will continue to be low.” SCFB President David Winkles said, “The time is right for congress to act. They have not yet passed an appropriations bill for the current federal year, so there’s an opportunity to work in a line for disaster payments. Government has always stepped up to help farmers, and the general population, make it through weather related problems. Non-farmers have experienced tornadoes, hurricanes and other types of severe weather and the government has helped them recover. We are looking to congress for similar wisdom and compassion for farmers.” Government support of agriculture helps the United States maintain the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world. Congressional representatives pledged to take the farmers’ massage back to Capitol Hill. #
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