Berry Asks USDA for Additional Assistance for Rice Producers

Today I sent a letter to the President and Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) asking the agency to reconsider its recent drought assistance package and include additional assistance for rice farmers. The drought assistance package, which USDA announced on August 29th, will benefit livestock, upland cotton, and grain sorghum producers while neglecting rice producers.

USDA should not provide relief for some farmers and exclude others. All of our farmers in the MidSouth region suffered considerably during the drought of 2005 regardless of what type of crop they grow. These families deserve fair and equal treatment from the U.S. government.

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