Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack will host a Telephone Town Hall TOMORROW, Tuesday, July 24^th at 7pm CDT.  Loebsack will take questions and talk with Iowans about the issues that matter to them.  People interested in participating in the call are urged to visit http://Loebsack.house.gov to sign up.

"Hearing directly from constituents is critical to my job," said Loebsack.  "Please join me for a conversation about the issues that matter most to you and your family."

Congressman Loebsack Hosts Telephone Town Hall

Tuesday, July 24^th

7pm CDT

To register, visit http://loebsack.house.gov/ and click the Teletown Halls sign up icon on the right hand side of the website.

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2012 - TOMORROW, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will keynote the Iowa Farm Bureau's 2012 Economic Summit. The Secretary will discuss the ongoing drought, USDA's efforts to assist producers, and the innovation and resilience of rural Americans in tough times such as these. He will also discuss some of the strengths shared by producers and rural communities that better position us to face this drought now than in years past - new technologies, lower debt, and the continuing strength of export markets.

As of July 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 1,297 counties across the country as disaster areas. According to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor report, 88 percent of our nation's corn and 87 percent of our soybeans are in drought-stricken areas.

At President Obama's direction, USDA has announced a number of measures using existing authority to help producers impacted by drought. On July 11 USDA announced a final rule to simplify the process for Secretarial disaster designations; reduced the interest rate for Farm Service Agency Emergency Loans, lowering the current rate from 3.75 percent to 2.25 percent; and reduced the payment reduction for Conservation Reserve Program lands that qualify for emergency haying and grazing in 2012, from 25 to 10 percent.  Today Secretary Vilsack announced additional measures to create more flexibility within USDA's major conservation programs - allowing additional emergency haying and grazing on more Conservation Reserve Program lands and other conservation lands for drought-stricken producers. Secretary Vilsack also today sent a letter to crop insurance companies asking them to voluntarily defer the accrual of any interest on unpaid spring crop premiums by producers until November, an extra 30 days.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

12 p.m. CDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver keynote remarks to the Iowa Farm Bureau's 2012 Economic Summit

WHERE: Iowa State Center Scheman Building

Iowa State University

Ames, IA

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CARBONDALE - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will host a media call-in Tuesday afternoon with Audrey Rowe, Administrator of the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, to announce that up to 50 farmers' markets across Illinois will receive free wireless machines that accept Link, debit and credit cards as part of the Illinois Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Wireless Project. With these markets coming aboard, one in three farmers' markets statewide will accept food stamp benefits for the first time.

Simon and Rowe will be joined on the call by Connie Spreen, the executive director of the Chicago non-profit Experimental Station, and vegetable farmers Cheryl and Josh Dotson of Dotson Farms in Beecher, a mother-son team that sells produce at several farmers' markets in Chicago. Simon and Rowe will explain the wireless grant program and discuss USDA efforts to boost access to local foods and the impact that can have on the health of citizens and the economy.

DATE: Tuesday, July 24

TIME: 1 - 2 p.m.

All callers using the above pass code will be placed in listen only mode. To join the Q&A portion of the meeting, these callers are instructed to press *1 on their touch tone phone.

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement after the US Department of Agriculture temporary changes to their major conservation programs to help livestock producers as this summer's drought intensifies.

"The efforts announced today by the USDA are good first steps to start helping Iowa farmers affected by this summer's drought.  If this drought continues, farmers will need more help.

"That's why I'll keep working with the USDA to ensure we're doing everything possible to stand behind farmers during this challenging time.  The drought not only threatens the livelihood of countless Iowa farmers, it will have incredible effects on Iowa's economy.  That's why it's so important we do everything we can to keep Iowa farmers on their feet.

"And with many of the disaster recovery programs from the 2008 Farm Bill already expired, it's more important than ever we quickly get a new Farm Bill passed into law."

The assistance announced today takes advantage of the Secretary of Agriculture's existing authority to help create and encourage flexibility within four USDA programs: the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

More details on the USDA steps announced today can be found at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/fEp