Federal & Legislative

Agriculture emergency preparedness warrants far more national attention than it is currently receiving. Therefore, the Partnership has been working with our federal partners and our Congressional representatives in an attempt to raise awareness of this important issue.

Funding is an indicator of support. Since 9/11, nearly $12 billion to states for urban infrastructure protection, but only $50 million to states for agriculture security.

And overall homeland security funding has decreased dramatically, particularly for most rural agricultural states.

The Partnership has identified the following State needs:

Support for the development of Comprehensive State Agriculture Emergency Response Programs
Equipment and training for agriculture first responders
Better interagency coordination between state and federal partners
Further support of interstate coordination
Greater attention to public information coordination during agricultural emergencies
Clarification of the current indemnification programs and the development of true recovery programs
Clarification of the federal declarations process for agricultural emergencies