Farmers affected by government shutdown (Republican Senators plead for help)

[ProSense]

Farmers affected by government shutdown

Politicians who portray themselves as the farmer’s friend are doing the nation’s food producers no favors with the present government shutdown.

Here’s a partial list of how farmers have been affected by the government impasse, according to a recent list in FarmWeek:

–Farm Service Agency offices are closed.

–Rural development programs are on hold. No loans will be issued and projects under construction will be delayed.

–U.S. Department of Agriculture statistical reports have been suspended.

–USDA meat and poultry inspectors will continue working but must wait to be paid.

–Enrollment in conservation programs has been halted.

“Congress has yet again failed its most basic duty: to debate and pass legislation and, frankly, we’ve run out of ways to say we’re disappointed,” said Danny Murphy, president of the St. Louis-based American Soybean Association, referring to the failure of legislators to pass a farm bill as well as the suspension of farm programs due to the shutdown.

- more -

http://blogs.pjstar.com/mindingbiz/2013/10/08/farmers-affected-by-government-shutdown/

Johanns issues statement on Nebraska severe weather

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), today issued the following statement on the impact of last week's severe weather in Nebraska:

<...>

"I'm also concerned about reports of significant cattle loss among ranchers. Although important livestock programs expired last week, I'm hopeful they'll be restored through the farm bill and I encourage producers who experienced cattle loss to maintain good record and document their losses. Both the Senate and House-passed farm bills authorize these critical programs, which is yet another reason it's important to move swiftly to finalize a bill in conference and get it to the President for signature."

The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and other livestock programs are designed to help producers manage risk and shield them from the effects of significant loss. Both the Senate and House-passed versions of the farm bill include provisions to reauthorize and fund these programs. Last week, the Senate named farm bill conferees tasked with working with House conferees in merging the two bills into one piece of legislation. It must then be passed by both chambers and signed by the President.

http://www.kotanow.com/story/23639240/johanns-issues-statement-on-nebraska-severe-weather

Thune Asks Vilsack To Help With Livestock Losses

WASHINGTON D.C. -
South Dakota Senator John Thune is asking Speaker of the House John Boehner and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to help South Dakota ranchers who suffered livestock losses during the weekend snow storm.

Thune sent a letter to Vilsack Tuesday asking him to open Farm Service Agency offices in the impacted western South Dakota counties so employees can help tally and assess the losses from the storm. FSA offices are closed right now because of the ongoing government shutdown.

Thune also sent a letter to Speaker Boehner asking him to appoint Farm Bill conferees so the House and Senate can start hammering out the details of the legislation as soon as possible. Both the House and Senate have passed versions of the Farm Bill that include livestock disaster programs; however the programs are not in place because both chambers have failed to come to an agreement on a new Farm Bill. The old one expired October 1.

“We need to be doing everything we can to help the livestock producers whose livelihoods have been endangered by this storm,” Thune said in a statement Tuesday.

- more -

http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/thune-asks-vilsack-to-help-with-livestock-losses-/?id=154285

Food bank sending trucks to feed furloughed Grand Canyon workers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023807835

Boehner: Clean Debt Limit Would Be 'Unconditional Surrender' For GOP (updated)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023809599


http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017147274

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[madrchsod]

2. my facebook farmer friends have been silent so far...

my wife is picking up comments about the wic and food stamps being cut at the grocery stores.
my wife works at a facility where many of the people she takes care of are on food stamps and other benefits. these people can not vote. we have to vote for them.





a personal note...everyone in my immediate family are or have been on wic and food stamps. my wife and i are finishing up our food stamp program. due to my extended illness this spring my wife went on fmla for over two months. without food stamps and other government programs that are shut down we would be out of our home living in a rental with our kids.

[bluestate10]

3. What hypocrisy. Their voters are the most dependent on the federal government, but they

point fingers. Republicans are evil assholes. They only care when their voters are getting hurt, but don't have enough intelligence to recognize that their voters suffer the most from a government shutdown.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Add to this

that the previously-extended-for-1-year Farm Bill, expired at the end of September and now all that was in there goes completely away by January, including milk subsidies, crop insurance, etc.

And somewhat related - Alaska King Crab season has just begun and because the Marine Fisheries Service is closed, the crabbers will not be able to get their permits to harvest the crabs, much of which is exported to Japan.

Meanwhile, the teabaggers are celebrating because I expect, perhaps unbeknownst to them, this may be their last supper.

[ProSense]

5. Yeah, but the shutdown is no big deal.

Who needs food?

Texas food banks feel shutdown squeeze
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023806982

[jwirr]

6. Kevin Cramer is a fool. Most of this idiot idea that the rw religions have about helping the poor

comes from John Calvin (Protestant reformer) and if they bothered to read him they would know that when he was talking about this passage he made it very clear that the elderly, disabled and children were exempt from this idea and he even goes so far as to tell his followers that if there is no work then the government must provide work if they want to follow this idea.

Hey Kevin what does the Bible say about thieves and those who oppress people? You fit that category.

[ProSense]

7. Everything the RW nuts believe is crap. n/t

[ProSense]

8. Here's a good example of the disconnect

The Catholic Church Supports Unions As ‘Moral Choices,’ Says Bargaining Rights Reflect ‘Principles Of Justice’http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/03/02/147705/catholic-church-supports-unions/

[bullwinkle428]

9. Repuke farmers here in Iowa have these professionally-made "billboards"

on their property saying things like "Free markets, not free-loaders! Support the Republican party", and similar signs suggesting that the GOP is the clear choice amongst Very Serious People when it comes to economic responsibility.

I can't help but guffaw each time I drive past one of these signs, noting the abject hypocrisy of it all when it comes their precious subsidies.

[ProSense]

10. Disgusting hypocrites. n/t