Show-Me State Times

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has reached out to the Senate Appropriations Committee, advocating for Missouri farmers to be included in an upcoming disaster aid package. This request follows recent natural disasters, notably Hurricane Helene, which significantly affected agricultural operations in Southeast Missouri.

In his communication, Senator Hawley highlighted the challenges faced by local farmers due to adverse weather conditions. "The outer bands of Hurricane Helene hit Southeast Missouri, halting soybean harvest operations and exposing crops to excessive moisture for up to 10 days," he stated. He emphasized that prior to this heavy rainfall, the region was already grappling with drought conditions for the third consecutive year.

Hawley outlined the impact on crop quality, mentioning issues such as "seed deterioration, sprouting in pods, cracks in pod walls, and mold." These problems have resulted in penalties at grain elevators for affected crops. In light of these circumstances, Hawley urged the committee to ensure that "quality loss" is considered a covered loss under any forthcoming supplemental disaster funding package.

The senator's appeal underscores the financial challenges faced by farmers who may not qualify for crop insurance indemnity payments due to existing policies that do not cover quality loss without yield loss.

Hawley's letter was addressed to key figures on the Senate Appropriations Committee: Chair Patty Murray and Vice Chair Susan Collins. He expressed hope that they would acknowledge "the severity of this disaster" in Missouri and include provisions for quality loss in their deliberations over disaster assistance measures.