Mississippi Gulf News

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, along with U.S. Representatives Michael Guest and Mike Ezell, have joined forces in urging the Biden administration to reconsider the implementation of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In a letter addressed to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the Mississippi lawmakers expressed their concerns over the new requirements imposed by the program, stating that it deviates from the original congressional intent and could potentially hinder farmers from accessing much-needed assistance.

The letter, which was also signed by eight senators and 58 House members, emphasizes the lawmakers' dissatisfaction with the current ERP requirements. They argue that the program fails to provide adequate support to full-time farm families who have suffered significant losses due to natural disasters in 2022. Furthermore, they contend that the methodology used by the USDA for the 2022 ERP will have a detrimental impact on farmers' ability to secure financing and plan for the upcoming crop year.

According to the lawmakers, the USDA's implementation of the ERP 2022 introduces preferential treatment for underserved and part-time farmers, while disproportionately limiting assistance for larger-scale farmers who have experienced substantial disaster-related losses. They provide an example of a mid-sized farm with calculated losses of $200,000, which would receive over $150,000 in assistance in 2020 but only $18,750 in 2022. This significant reduction in aid could potentially push farmers to the brink of bankruptcy.

The request made by Hyde-Smith, Guest, and Ezell was prompted by the growing concerns expressed by various national agriculture organizations, as well as the Mississippi Farm Bureau and Delta Council, regarding the flaws in the ERP 2022. These organizations, alongside the lawmakers, believe that the USDA's departure from congressional intent in the development of the program has led to an inequitable distribution of assistance.

To further address their concerns, Senator Hyde-Smith also signed a letter, led by Senator John Hoeven, requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the USDA's implementation of ERP 2022. The letter specifically asks the GAO to assess whether the use of a "progressive" payment factor, instead of a single uniform factor, maximizes program benefits in an unbiased manner based on a producer's loss.

In their efforts to rectify the situation, Hyde-Smith, Guest, and Ezell are urging the USDA to abandon the current ERP and instead implement the framework of the 2021 ERP Phase 1 as quickly as possible. They believe that adhering to the original congressional intent will ensure that farm families receive the necessary assistance without the imposition of pay limits and unauthorized preferences.

The Mississippi lawmakers' appeal for changes to the USDA's ERP 2022 program highlights the importance of providing fair and equitable relief to farmers who have faced significant losses due to natural disasters. They, along with their colleagues in Congress, are committed to holding the administration accountable and ensuring that farmers receive the support they need to overcome these challenges and continue contributing to the nation's agricultural industry.