{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fischbach.house.gov/2022/5/rep-fischbach-joins-minnesota-delegation-in-requesting-aid-for-farmers-impacted-by-storms", "Rep. Fischbach Joins Minnesota Delegation In Requesting Aid for Farmers Impacted by Storms", "2022-05-23", "2022", "2022-05", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Michelle Fischbach", "F000470", "fischbach.house.gov", "fischbach", "https://fischbach.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Minnesota Congressional and Senatorial delegation sent a letter Monday urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide federal assistance for Minnesota farmers and communities impacted by storms and natural disasters this spring harvest.\n\nThe lawmakers offered their support for Governor Tim Walz\u2019s request for a Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator's Physical Loss Notice (APLN) to assist farmers that are recovering from historically adverse weather conditions this spring.\n\n\u201cWeather conditions in our state this spring have been historically cold and wet\u2026 Two separate storms in recent weeks produced heavy rains, straight-line winds, and tornados that damaged barns and silos and left many residents without power,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThese natural disaster events have delayed many farmers from getting into their fields. The most recent National Agricultural Statistics Service crop report for Minnesota indicated that completed plantings for corn (35 percent), soybeans (11 percent), wheat (5 percent), and sugarbeets (8 percent) have all lagged significantly behind last year and the 5-year average.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe urge you to grant the state\u2019s request for an APLN declaration to provide financial support for farmers and communities that are struggling with difficult weather conditions this spring,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Secretary Vilsack:\n\nWe write to strongly support the state of Minnesota\u2019s request for a Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator's Physical Loss Notice (APLN) and urge you to grant this request in order to provide vital support to farmers and communities in our state.\n\nWeather conditions in our state this spring have been historically cold and wet. According to the University of Minnesota\u2019s preliminary climate summary for April 2022, average daily temperatures were six to eight degrees below normal and northwestern Minnesota experienced its wettest month of April dating back to 1895. Two separate storms in recent weeks produced heavy rains, straight-line winds, and tornados that damaged barns and silos.\n\nThese natural disaster events have delayed many farmers from getting into their fields. The most recent National Agricultural Statistics Service crop report for Minnesota indicated that completed plantings for corn (35 percent), soybeans (11 percent), wheat (5 percent), and sugarbeets (8 percent) have all lagged significantly behind last year and the 5-year average.\n\nWe urge you to grant the state\u2019s request for an APLN declaration to provide financial support for farmers and communities that are struggling with difficult weather conditions this spring.\n\nThank you for your consideration of our request.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fischbach.house.gov/2022/5/rep-fischbach-joins-minnesota-delegation-in-requesting-aid-for-farmers-impacted-by-storms"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8581920303404331, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}