Media Contacts: Nancy Lungren, Deputy Secretary of Public Affairs, (916) 531-3039, nlungren@cdfa.ca.gov, Steve Lyle, Director of Public Affairs, (916) 654-0462
SACRAMENTO – The California agricultural community received good news today in the form of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s approval of $140 million in funding for relief related to the January 2007 freeze and $95 million in relief related to the 2006 summer heat wave. The proposal has already been approved by the House of Representatives, and now heads for a vote by the full Senate.
“The committee’s passage today of relief funding for California farmers, ranchers and workers affected by the winter freeze and last summer’s heat wave is a welcome response to requests by Governor Schwarzenegger and the California congressional delegation,” said Kawamura. “Damage from these disasters ranged from lost jobs and wages to lost crops and productivity. Our farmers and their workers provide much of the food that graces our nation’s tables, so it is appropriate that we extend this helping hand in their time of crisis.”Over the past few years, California’s farming and ranching community has been battered by heat waves, freezes, flooding, and even a fishery failure on the Klamath River. “At each turn, Governor Schwarzenegger has worked quickly to minimize damage and secure assistance for California agriculture,” Kawamura said. “Our state representatives and our congressional delegation have likewise been responsive to these urgent issues, and I thank them for their diligence.”
The committee approved the following funding:• $95 million for California milk production losses due to the 2006 heat wave.
In addition, the committee approved funding nationwide for disasters that occurred in 2005, 2006 and 2007, which includes California’s 2007 freeze and 2006 heat wave. This funding includes $2.09 billion for crop loss compensation and $1.498 billion for livestock loss compensation. Farmers and producers will apply directly to the Farm Service Agency for compensation.