Governor Jindal Issues Letter To U.S. Secretary of Agriculture



BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal sent the following letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack:



May 12, 2011



Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250



Dear Secretary Vilsack:



As you are aware, the Mississippi River is expected to crest above flood stage in the next several days due to the excessive rains in upper Mississippi River basin states. We anticipate severe flooding along the Mississippi River Basin in Louisiana . Agricultural producers in the basin will face significant damage and loss to cropland and livestock as a result.



We are requesting that the following parishes be granted a Secretarial designation:





Ascension

Assumption

Avoyelles

Caldwell

Catahoula

Concordia

East Baton Rouge

East Carroll

Iberia

East Feliciana

Franklin

Iberville

Lafourche

LaSalle

Madison

Morehouse

Pointe Coupee

St. Charles

St. James

St. Landry

St. Martin

St. Mary

Tensas

Terrebonne

West Baton Rouge

West Feliciana.







In addition to the impending floods, Louisiana experienced severe tornadoes on April 26 and 27, 2011. A number of agriculture and livestock producers, including poultry and specialty crop farmers, were affected. We also request the following parishes be granted a Secretarial designation:



DeSoto Sabine Winn

Red River Natchitoches



This would allow qualifying producers to become eligible for emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE).



We greatly appreciate your consideration of this recommendation.



Sincerely,







Bobby Jindal

Governor of Louisiana