Farmers Affected By Gustav, Ike Get Aid

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — State agriculture officials say more than 1,000 Louisiana farmers will share $5.7 million to help them recover losses suffered after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says the funding, announced Thursday, was part of the 2008 Farm Recovery Program designed to help farmers and ranchers with their 2009 production costs. The money was made available through the second round of funding in the program.

Just over 1,000 farmers received $34.8 million through the first round of the program. In the second round, they will receive 18 percent of their original loan amount. Farmers were told of their eligibility by letter in November and disbursement began Dec. 6. The average additional grant is $5,706.

Strain says they are working to get additional funding to help others who were impacted by the 2008 hurricanes.