For those that sustained damage when Hurricane Irene crossed the coastal plain of North Carolina, Karis Gutter, acting deputy undersecretary for  USDA’s Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services says that farmer or not, the USDA can help:
“Rather than being the disaster response agency, USDA is the disaster recovery agency. So, we’ve got a number of resources available, and programs available that can help producers recover from the disasters and the storms.”
One of the immediate benefits that USDA can offer to those in need is SNAP benefits:
“We’ve got immediate assistance available through the Food and Nutrition Services whereas folks may need access to nutritious foods in the immediate aftermath of a storm, so we’ve got programs there at the Food and Nutrition Services and immediate SNAP benefits.”
Anemic Growth for the Second Quarter
The Bureau of Economic Analysis says Gross Domestic Product for the 2nd quarter was anemic. Growth was revised down, to an annual rate of just 1%. Mark Zandi, Chief Economist with Moody's Analytics, says we're way off from where we need to be:
“We need to grow closer to 2.5 to 3% just to generate enough jobs to maintain a stable rate of unemployment. So, the number isn’t nearly good enough. We’re not in recession, we’re not contracting, but clearly, a disappointing number.”
Northern Plains Producers Helping Their Colleagues to the South with Hay Deliveries
North Dakota producers are helping supply hay to drought-stricken cattlemen in Texas. Some Texas ranchers have been forced to sell their cattle - and those who haven't, are buying the hay they need:
“We’ve sent about 20 loads in, and we’re getting about 24 ton on a load.”
That's Kevin Thompson of Almont, North Dakota:
“There was a real premium for it in big square bales, and we did a little thinking on it and invested in a square baler and take advantage of the opportunity.”
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