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Farm Aid Offers Immediate Assistance for Farmers Devastated By Hurricane Katrina

Posted on: Thursday, 1 September 2005, 18:00 CDT

SOMERVILLE, Mass., Sept. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Farm Aid today activated the Family Farm Disaster Fund to encourage donations for farm families devastated by Hurricane Katrina, helping them to recover from this natural disaster and continue farming.

"This is a moment when each of us can take stock of what we can offer to everyone affected by this catastrophe, and Farm Aid is in a position to act for farm families," said Farm Aid President Willie Nelson. "Crop and livestock losses will be massive. Many farm buildings were destroyed in the storm and ensuing flooding. A disaster of this magnitude can be a breaking point for many Southern family farms."

Individuals can contribute to Farm Aid's disaster fund on-line at http://www.farmaid.org or by calling 800-FARM-AID. Farm Aid has sent an initial $30,000 to several partner family farm organizations in the southeast. The funds will allow the Federation of Southern Cooperatives and the Louisiana Interchurch Conference to immediately assess needs in these states and provide emergency relief. The Farmers Legal Action Group will step in with information they have developed on how farmers can access federal disaster programs.

"Fortunately, we can convene our farm group partners across the country to develop additional longer-term actions that Farm Aid and its donors can support," added Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar.

While the full extent of the damage to family farms is still unknown, Farm Aid representatives have been told that the infrastructure of many rural southeastern communities has been devastated and will take months to repair. Major crop losses are anticipated as many were weeks out from harvest when the hurricane hit. Livestock and poultry farmers face serious challenges in keeping their animals alive without transport or feed for farm animals.

Farm Aid will hold its 20th Anniversary concert on September 18 in Tinley Park, IL, just south of Chicago. Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp held the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 in Champaign, IL to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. Dave Matthews joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001. Farm Aid has raised more than $27 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture.

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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