Hurricane Debby triggers USDA aid payments

Aug 26, 2024
By Farms.com

USDA secures $200m for Hurricane-hit farmers

In response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Debby, the USDA has activated indemnity payments through its Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsement, allocating over $200 million to assist affected farmers. This financial aid underscores the USDA’s commitment to supporting rural communities in times of crisis.

The designated payments, to be issued within the next month, aim to mitigate the financial hardships faced by producers in the hardest-hit states.

Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina are among the key beneficiaries, with indemnities specifically earmarked for hurricane and tropical storm damages.

The aid is part of a broader strategy by the USDA to provide timely financial relief and support recovery efforts, ensuring that agricultural operations can rebound from natural disasters more swiftly.

The HIP-WI program, crucial in this strategy, covers losses not just from hurricanes but also from tropical storms, reflecting its critical role in agricultural risk management.

The USDA continues to refine its insurance programs, offering expanded coverage options and increased premium support for a variety of crops, including almonds and blueberries. This proactive approach in policy adjustment and enhancement is aimed at securing the future of agriculture and supporting the nation’s farmers through innovative and responsive risk management solutions.

Video: New colours and more durability for Case IH RB6 round balers

Farmers will see a new look and more efficiency and durability from Case IH's RB6 Series variable chamber round balers for model year 2026. In this report from the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, Case livestock product specialist Brian Williams notes that the first thing farmers will notice is a new colour scheme. "For the tailgate, the frame, and also the pickup, we've changed to our Case IH red colour. One of the really nice things about changing that colour scheme is that you're able to see that crop flowing into the baler much better from the tractor." There's also changes to the pickup with the addition of a second roller. "On the 566 model, you can get it with the double windrower roller," says Williams. "For our customers that are baling corn stalks or large windrows, it helps to push that windrow down to let that feed into the chamber, so that they're able to bale a little bit faster, because everyone's looking for better efficiency." There are also modifications to the rollers in the bale chamber — the stripper roll and the fixed roll have been combined into a one-piece roller. "There's no welds on those rollers, so the dependability is going to be far greater than our previous model," adds Williams.