U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced a proposal to dedicate $800 million in hurricane recovery funds for agricultural and timber producers, rural low-income housing assistance, restoration of natural resources and national forests, commodity food assistance programs, and rebuilding of USDA facilities.
A total of $50 million will be allocated for a new forestry disaster assistance fund to provide cost-share grants to states to assist timber land owners with debris removal, timber salvage, wildfire mitigation, and wildlife habitat stabilization. |