South Dakota Senator John Thune is leading a group of Senators requesting USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack expedite implementation of the livestock disaster program reauthorized in the 2014 Farm Bill.  He says there is a real urgency to get financial assistance to livestock producers due to the magnitude of losses from the drought in 2012 and the devastating Atlas blizzard in 2013.

 

Thune says Congress was working with USDA on Livestock Indemnity Program rules prior to passage of the farm bill.  He says since this is an extension of an existing disaster program that should help cut the implementation time.

 

Joining Thune on the letter to the Ag Secretary include Senator Tim Johnson and North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp.