Letlow Legislation Improves Disaster Assistance for Farmers, Landowners

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the wake of recent natural disasters causing severe damage to Louisiana’s timber economy, Congresswoman Julia Letlow has introduced legislation adding improvements to disaster relief programs for forest landowners.

Over a three-month period in late 2023, wildfires burned more than 60,000 acres of prime forest land in Louisiana, causing evacuations and severe damage to timber operations.

The Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act would provide farmers and nonindustrial forest landowners with advance emergency payments to help implement urgent measures following natural disasters. This bill also expands the eligibility for payments to include damage caused by man-made fires when the damage was spread due to natural causes, as well as wildfires that are caused by the federal government.

“Recent natural disasters have had a profound effect on Louisiana’s timber and agricultural economy, making it essential that we guard against the consequences of extreme weather events before they happen,” said Congresswoman Julia Letlow. “My legislation would ensure that help is available for farmers and landowners as soon as disaster strikes, so they don’t have to wait months for support as they try to rebuild their lives.”

The proposal enhances disaster relief for forest landowners by revising two key programs within the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978: the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP).

“I thank Congresswoman Letlow for sponsoring this important legislation that will give producers the ability to access emergency assistance up-front to begin the recovery process more quickly following a natural disaster.  For many producers, once they have lost their timber, they simply do not have the cash to rehabilitate and replant in order to access federal assistance programs that operate on a reimbursable basis only,” said Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Mike Strain. 

"Congresswoman Letlow’s leadership in reintroducing the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act is a critical step toward ensuring private forest landowners have the disaster recovery tools they need. These landowners provide the economic and environmental benefits our nation depends on, yet they lack adequate support when disasters strike. Strengthening recovery programs will help them restore forests, protect rural economies, and ensure the long-term health of our working forests,” said Craig Anderson, VP of Government Affairs, Forest Landowners Association.

“My goal is to have this legislation included in the next farm bill passed by Congress, which is currently under negotiation,” added Congresswoman Letlow.
 
View text of the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act here.

To learn more about Congresswoman Letlow’s focus on agriculture issues, click here.

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