Letter: Farmers need to tell their stories to legislators

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Farmers are urged to begin a grassroots campaign of calling and writing to politicians, writing letters to newspapers and generally “keeping the pressure on” to ensure that the financial impact of the 2015 flood is heard and action is taken. At a Disaster Recovery meeting held Oct. 15 in Lake City, representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. rep. Jim Clyburn stated that “farmers would have to help push for an act of Congress to help South Carolina’s recovery.” Timely action from South Carolina agriculture producers and industry is needed because, one, it is unlikely any bill could get through Congress before January; and two, the small size of South Carolina’s delegation in Washington would make getting an aid bill passed more difficult. Kenneth Barnes, district director for Rep. Clyburn, said that when “they try to get stuff for farmers, some states just don’t understand.” “This is going to take a little while,” he said. “Things are not coming down as fast as people would like.” Just two days after the flood disaster, the South Carolina Farm Service Agency made a preliminary agricultural loss estimate of $300 million due to the drought and flooding that occurred in South Carolina. This number was used to help obtain a U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster declaration for most counties in South Carolina, but if any additional federal assistance is forthcoming, South Carolina agricultural producers need to share their personal stories with legislators in South Carolina and in Washington, D.C. Clemson Extension encourages every agricultural producer to contact their legislators to share the impact of the 2015 disaster on their operation. Your letter or email should include: The financial impact on your operation; Pictures of the disaster from your operation and area; Actions from Congress that would help with disaster recovery. If you choose, please also send a copy of your personal letter to Clemson Extension, so that a Statewide Impact Assessment can be tabulated. Letters can be mailed to Clemson Extension, 102 Barre Hall, Clemson, SC 29634. DR. TOM DOBBINS Director, Clemson Extension