Ernst, Iowa Delegation Urge Approval of Governor Reynolds’ USDA Secretarial Disaster Designation

RED OAK, Iowa—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined members of the Iowa delegation in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging a prompt approval of Governor Kim Reynolds’ Secretarial Disaster Designation request for 57 Iowa counties that suffered losses as a result of the derecho that occurred on August 10, 2020.

“Based on satellite imagery and preliminary storm reports, approximately 3.57 million acres of corn and 2.5 million acres of soybeans can be seen to be severely damage, with millions more acres affected to varying degrees. This is a potential loss of nearly 725 million bushels of corn and nearly 153 million bushels of soybeans…Iowa producers have also suffered significant damage to houses, grain bins, barns, and other infrastructure critical to their farming operations and livelihoods. It is critical that you grant this Secretarial Disaster Designation that will make these producers eligible for resources that will help mitigate these significant losses,” the members wrote.

Full text of the letter can be found below and HERE.

August 21, 2020

The Honorable Sonny Perdue

Secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture

219A Whitten Building

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Perdue:

We respectfully ask that you promptly grant the request made by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for a Secretarial Disaster Designation for 57 Iowa counties that suffered losses as a result of the derecho that occurred on August 10, 2020.

The counties included are: Adair, Audubon, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Buchanan, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cherokee, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Ida, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Monona, Monroe, Muscatine, Plymouth, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Sac, Scott, Shelby, Story, Tama, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Washington, Webster, and Woodbury.

This severe storm swept through much of Iowa with sustained winds in excess of 100 mph.  Within the requested 57 counties, there are 8.2 million corn acres and 5.6 million soybean acres.  Based on satellite imagery and preliminary storm reports, approximately 3.57 million acres of corn and 2.5 million acres of soybeans can be seen to be severely damage, with millions more acres affected to varying degrees. This is a potential loss of nearly 725 million bushels of corn and nearly 153 million bushels of soybeans.

Iowa producers have also suffered significant damage to houses, grain bins, barns, and other infrastructure critical to their farming operations and livelihoods.  It is critical that you grant this Secretarial Disaster Designation that will make these producers eligible for resources that will help mitigate these significant losses.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of this important request.

Sincerely,

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