Georgia Mountain News

Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) and House Agriculture Committee Vice Chair Austin Scott (R-GA) have joined Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in a bipartisan, bicameral effort to address the needs of Georgia farmers affected by Tropical Storm Debby. They have sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, urging him to ensure that all impacted farmers receive maximum support from the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

“Farmers and growers deserve certainty from their federal insurance programs that their crops will be protected against natural disasters,” said Rep. Carter. “It is critical that USDA use reliable and accurate data to account for the damages caused by Tropical Storm Debby, so that it can maximize support for the hardworking Georgians who feed the nation.”

Georgia farmers often purchase supplemental insurance such as the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement and Tropical Storm Option to mitigate potential damage from natural disasters. However, while the USDA has acknowledged damage in some Georgia counties due to the storm, it has not included all affected areas, leaving many farmers without expected insurance relief.

"Georgia's number one industry is agriculture, so the damage inflicted by Tropical Storm Debby wasn't just a blow to our farmers; it was a blow to our state's economy," stated Rep. Scott. "Lanier, Coffee, Atkinson, Echols, and Berrien counties were within the tropical wind corridor, and additional data provided shows that rainfall in the area was high enough for these counties to receive support following the storm. These farmers are suffering from the impact, and my colleagues and I are urging Secretary Vilsack and the USDA’s Risk Management Agency to rectify this issue."

The letter requests Secretary Vilsack ensure Georgia growers receive maximum support under their purchased insurance from the Federal Crop Insurance Program and that HIP-WI payments are based on accurate information. It also asks for weekly briefings from USDA’s Risk Management Agency until the issue is resolved.