FSA Helps Fire Victimes

Wildfires continue to burn around the west. Farmers and ranchers that have been affected by fires need to be proactive when it comes to getting assistance. USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini spoke with me yesterday on how producers can best get help.

DOLCINI: The first thing that we need to obviously do is have these fires controlled and contained and ultimately extinguished. What we're encouraging farmers to do now, Greg, is make sure they're keeping good records of any losses that they are sustaining. So whether it's cattle that have died during the fires or fencing or irrigation supplies or other equipment that may have been damaged or lost as a result of these fires, we want to make sure our farmers and ranchers are keeping good records of those losses so that when fires are finally put out, they can visit with their local FSA offices and talk about what we might be able to do to help.

He asserts they have a wide range of programs that are available to help fire victims. He says that they are working to staff some offices.

DOLCINI: What we've done for offices that are a little short staffed is relocate folks from other offices. We've done that in Washington State and we do it elsewhere where we need to. We've also hired a number of temporary employees around the country that have been real lifesavers for us in offices where we're a little short staffed and we've also brought back some permanent staffers as well.

Again, Dolcini reminds farmers and ranchers that good record keeping and photos will help expedite the process.

And that's Washington Ag Today. I'm Greg Martin, thanks for listening on the Ag Information Network of the West.