Washington, D.C. – on Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved an amendment written by Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) that would allow farmers and ranchers affected by the drought to access federal funds to repair damaged farmland or install measures for water conservation.
The amendment is intended to provide $11 million for the Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).
“With California in a severe and sustained drought, we need to act now to help our farmers and ranchers,” said Rep. McNerney. “My amendment will make sure the ECP is available for those who need it. I’m glad a bipartisan group of my House colleagues approved this plan, and I will work to get the funding included in the final Agriculture bill that will be passed by the House and Senate.”
California has more than 80,000 farms and ranches, accounting for 15 percent of national receipts for crops and 7.1 percent of the U.S. revenue for livestock and livestock products. State exports in 2013 totaled approximately $18 billion in value.
