September 12, 2006

 

US state of Kansas to get reduced drought aid after miscalculation

 

 

The USDA's Farm Service Agency issued an apology to Kansas cattlemen Monday (Sep 11) for a mistake that might have taken US$3.8 million away from their livestock drought assistance programme.

 

John Johnson, deputy administrator for farm programmes at the Farm Service Agency, said the error was discovered last week when officials realised the data included the numbers of feedlot cattle for Kansas and two other states.

 

The Agriculture Department recalculated the allocations after it discovered it had erroneously credited Kansas for livestock in feed yards.

 

The assistance programme was meant to help cattlemen who have difficulty paying for feed or grazing grounds during the drought, thus feedlot cattle had to be excluded.

 

The offical said this meant, unfortunately, a major reduction in Kansas and a minor adjustment in Wyoming and Arizona.

 

Under revised figures, Kansas' share of the US$50 million programme would be US$948,511, or just about 20 percent the US$4.78 million originally promised.

 

Kansas, which has a huge feedlot industry, is the nation's second-largest cattle-producing state, behind Texas.

 

Kansas Agriculture Secretary Adrian Polansky, who was understandably upset at the diminished figures, said they had been looking forward to a significant relief package but the package as it stands now could hardly cover losses by producers.

 

Polansky also sowed more doubts about USDA's figures, noting that some Southern states with far fewer cattle are getting about the same assistance as Kansas.

 

Louisiana, for example, is getting $958,437 in drought aid for its cattlemen, he pointed out.

 

However, Johnson said the figures were based on foundation herds.

 

Matt Teagarden, director of industry relations for the Kansas Livestock Association, said he has not heard any dissatisfaction over the miscalculation, adding that the amount would still help as members had not expected the government to provide any aid.

 

Kansas had serious forage losses this year and grass and hay production for grazing has been reduced due to drought.

 

Now, ranchers are adjusting and hoping for better times down the road, Teagarden said.