Waiver approved for assistance to farmers and ranchers

TULSA, Okla. (AP)--Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers will be able to receive emergency assistance from the Farm Service Agency for grass fire damage, Rep. Dan Boren has announced.

The federal agency technically provides emergency assistance for naturally caused events, such as fires sparked by lightning. Most of the fires in Oklahoma over the last few months have been caused by man, often by accident.

However, the agency has approved the assistance because drought and wind conditions contributed greatly to the fires, the Tulsa World reported from its Washington bureau Jan. 19.

"A cigarette butt doesn't burn down 40,000 acres without some help from nature," Boren, D-OK, said in a statement.

"We're very pleased about this decision. This aid will provide a valuable supplement to farmers and ranchers who are trying to salvage their livestock operations."

The FSA's Emergency Conservation Program provides disaster assistance to farmers and ranchers for certain immediate needs such as rebuilding fences and repairing water sources for livestock.

"I've heard from a number of constituents and local officials that this assistance was badly needed for farmers, not only in eastern Oklahoma but across the state," Boren said. "Estimates put the number of homes and businesses destroyed at 250, and that's likely to go up as damage assessments continue. It's imperative that farms impacted by this disaster not be overlooked."

Since Nov. 1, grass fires have burned 416,000 acres across the state.

President Bush has issued a disaster declaration to free up Federal Emergency Management Agency aid in 12 counties: Canadian, Cotton, Garvin, Hughes, Lincoln, Logan, Mayes, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Seminole and Stephens.

Date:1/26/06