The House passed a $19.1 billion disaster bill yesterday that includes over $3 billion for agricultural losses. Much of that will go to 2019 prevented plant payments, but there were also dollars allocated for an indemnity for on-farm stored commodities lost during the floods. USDA Under Secretary for Farm Programs and Conservation Bill Northey says that will be a big help to producers.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the stored grain indemnity was an amendment he introduced to the bill. He recommends farmers check with their local FSA office as details are released on this assistance.

Grassley says he’s not sure how USDA will figure the prevented plant payments in the disaster legislation, especially since Ag Secretary Perdue indicated he has lawyers checking into the legality of MFP payments on unplanted acres.

Also included in the disaster bill is $558 million for the Emergency Conservation Program for repairs to damaged farmland and $435 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. There is also aid for USDA Rural Development, Economic Development Assistance Programs, Army Corps of Engineers for operation and maintenance of Mississippi River and Tributaries and funding for the U.S. DOT’s Emergency Relief Program and HUD for Community Development Block Grants.