D-SNAP assistance for Oklahoma storm victims

Jul 04, 2024

USDA approves disaster relief program

By Farms.com

The USDA's Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) is available to help low-income residents of Rogers and Mayes counties in Oklahoma recover from the effects of severe storms that began May 25th, 2024.

Households meeting D-SNAP eligibility criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster expenses, may be eligible for one month of benefits. This benefit equals the maximum monthly amount for a SNAP household of their size.

These benefits can be used to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or from select online retailers. The program helps families meet temporary food needs while they rebuild their lives after the disaster.

Oklahoma will accept D-SNAP applications for five non-consecutive days, excluding weekends, from July 12th through 18th, 2024. Local media will share details on application dates and locations.

This D-SNAP program is the latest in a series of USDA actions to aid Oklahoma. The USDA previously approved waivers for SNAP recipients who lost food due to power outages and additional SNAP benefits for some existing recipients.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.