According to a post by the Alabama Farmers Federation, Vice President Mike Pence encouraged attendees and pledged continued aid for farmers affected by Hurricane Michael during the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia on Tuesday.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we have taken and will continue to take decisive action to address the aftermath of Hurricane Michael,” Pence said. “I know the strength and faith and resilience of the people of agriculture. We will recover from lost crops and rebuild communities.”
During the expo, which was attended by members of the Alabama Farmers Federation, federation president Jimmy Parnell also discussed issues affecting the Yellowhammer State’s farmers hit by the category-four hurricane with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
“I’m grateful for the chance to share with Secretary Perdue the struggles our Wiregrass farmers are facing,” Parnell said. “Florida and Georgia took the brunt of the storm, but communities and families in Alabama are hurting as well. We’re working with this administration and elected officials to help farmers recover and receive aid as quickly as possible.”
Thanks to @usdagov Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue for discussing ways to help Alabama recover from #HurricaneMichael with Alfa Farmers President Jimmy Parnell today at @sunbeltagexpo. pic.twitter.com/6Jvq1M2xLV
— Alfa Farmers (@AlfaFarmers) October 16, 2018
The vice president advised farmers to visit local Farm Service Agency offices for assistance or to access the disaster assistance recovery tool online here. Pence said the Trump Administration is working to give farmers “the support you need on the timelines you deserve.”
This came after President Donald Trump on Monday tweeted his support of farmers who have been devastated by the hurricane in southeast Alabama.
“[T]hinking about our GREAT Alabama farmers…We are with you!” Trump said.
The Alabama Farmers Federation has established a relief fund to directly benefit affected farmers in the state. Read more here.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
