[Rep. Mike Thompson] We're still waiting for
Office of Emergency Services.
But they'll be on momentarily and Ryan Buras
will be representing them.
Willie Nunn is on from FEMA.
And Scott Chamberlain, I believe, is with
him to provide any technical help necessary.
Kevin Wynn from SBA is with us.
Kevin, thank you.
And Jeff Yusui and Navdeep Dhillon from USDA are on.
Thank you both.
Just a little bit of an update, I think, you
know, we received the National Disaster Declaration,
which is incredibly important for our area.
It gives us an opportunity to access individual
assistance and public assistance from FEMA.
And the public assistance part is really crucial
because that pays 75% of the cost of the infrastructure
that's lost or damaged in the fire.
And then I have separate legislation to bump
that up to 90%.
And given all of the economic strain that
we're under with COVID, the increase to 90%
is really important under normal circumstances,
but in this environment, it is even more important.
And it also provides access to SBA loans.
So this is good information.
And then we have, I'm attempting to, to activate
the Wildfires and Hurricane Indemnity Program
(WHIP) for any of our growers who have been
hurt by smoke.
And what I'm hearing is that this is going
to be a major issue in all of the grape-growing
counties in our in our district, but we'll
have experts who will be able to answer any
questions.
I'm going to ask them to make a presentation
first, and then we'll go to the questions.
If any of the participants and the viewer
participants have a question that they'd like
to ask, you can go to the question bar on
the bottom of the screen and type that in.
And if you see a question there that someone
else has typed in, that you like, "like" that,
and that will give us an idea about the most
popular questions.
I think we're going to have plenty of time
to get to everyone.
But if we don't, if you have questions that
aren't answered, or you have a question later
on, you can email me at my email and we'll
get an answer for you.
So with that, we'll kick it off.
I understand Cal OES is joined.
So, Willie, I'm sorry.
I know you want to kick it off, but Katie's
rules are Ryan Buras will go first.
So if you don't mind yielding to him, I'll
ask Ryan to make some remarks.
[Ryan Buras] Thank you, can everyone hear
me right now?
[Rep. Mike Thompson] We can.
[Ryan Buras] Thank you.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Welcome.
[Ryan Buras] Thank you guys for having me
and everyone listening today.
I do want to spend just a few minutes just
discussing where we are with the fires and
how we've set up, you know, around the state
and in your areas, and then I'll turn it back
over to you and to our federal partners which
I know they have a lot to say as well.
The complexity of this fire is just not only
that it's the largest, but you know, in this
inside the COVID environment that we live
in today, the tens of thousands of people
that are unemployed that because of that,
the heatwave that we just went through a couple
of weeks ago and the PSPS events.
On top of that now we have, you know, over
a million acres being burned and still burning
and trying to get out in front of that.
While we're making some progress, unfortunately,
you know, a lot of people lost their homes.
And we were very fortunate enough to work
closely with FEMA and I know the SBO, Willie
Nunn on the line today and get a major declaration
for this incident.
It's definitely the first one that we've have
had to respond to in this COVID environment.
If anyone has heard me speak before, I say
the same thing again, even though the complexities
are high, the times that we live in a very
tense anytime you lose everything, it is not
easy recovery, not only for the individual,
but for the businesses it's going to be long.
And it's so important that we get up in front
of this now to offer that glimmer of hope
as we move forward.
But with all that said, I work closely with
the federal coordinating officer Willie, and
so, we have to make sure that we still provide
that human touch.
And that human touch is not only for the individual,
it's for the elected officials.
It's for the town officials, it's for those
businesses.
I've been on the road, as you know, the past
few weeks, I will continue to go on the road
as needed to meet with not only the CEOs and
elected but the emergency management directors,
those individuals, we have several local Assistance
Centers set up right now, throughout this
particular fire and one thing we have that
we did not have in the previous years we started
this in 2018.
California designed their recovery framework
from the National Disaster Recovery framework.
So we designed something called the California
Disaster Recovery Framework.
And we have six recovery support functions.
One of those is the economic recovery support
function.
So they put together what is available at
the state federal level, we coordinate closely
with the locals and those businesses.
GoBiz is our lead for the state.
We work closely with SBA.
I just spoke with SBA this morning.
I'm pretty sure they're on this call to go
over some opportunities and one thing that
this group does look at are two things.
One, we do try to provide as much technical
assistance as we can, which includes economic
analysis, workforce development, opportunity
zones, but more importantly, and what you
know, we depend on people like yourself, Congressman,
and others is what are those gaps?
What do those businesses need that, of course,
you can work at the federal level.
And we can work at the state level here.
And you know, this is a really, really good
support function.
Everything you know, is attached at the state
level with all state agencies.
So we have a phone call way I can speak to
anyone.
And if it's a agency that needs to get to
a local Assistance Center in person, we can
make that happen now.
And as you can tell at the local assistance,
we have a lot of state agencies presence.
And we really hope in on the economic side
and the business side that we really could
use these recovery support functions, teaming
up with FEMA and SBA and USDA, which is going
to be extremely important and relevant in
this particular disaster.
So we're excited.
I'm personally excited to be part of this.
I myself lost my home almost two decades ago,
I myself had family that lost businesses two
decades ago.
And the only thing that means is my lens is
we have a long way to go.
My lens is the quicker we work now, the quicker
we can recover, the quicker we can have some
hope moving forward.
So with that, I'll yield back my time.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Ryan, thank you very
much.
And I can't emphasize enough how fortunate
we are to have the great team that we have.
I mentioned the other morning over in the
Sonoma briefing that I'm not really excited
that we got the band back together again.
But if we have to do it, this is the group
to get back together.
Because just everybody works hand in glove.
And the focus is always the people who were
harmed by these natural disasters.
So you guys have all been great.
And I'm glad we're all in on the same team,
and I appreciate everything that everyone
is doing.
Willie, I'd like to turn it over to you now
to make some remarks.
[Willie Nunn] Thank you.
Good afternoon, everyone.
I'm Willie Nunn.
I'm the federal coordinating officer working
with Ryan, the state coordinating officer
for the state of California, for this disaster.
As Ryan said, as the congressman said also,
we're in lockstep with meeting the needs for
this disaster as we work together to give
that disaster assistance.
From one of the things that the Major Direct
Declaration was declared, we had the FEMA
Individual Assistance program.
This is a program available for all the residents
of this district with damage and unmet needs
caused by the recent fires.
These are grants to help eligible survivors
with financial assistance that include minimal
assistance, home repair or replacement and
other disaster-related needs such as childcare,
medical and dental expenses.
Now I want to manage your expectations.
These are not to make you whole.
However, these are to help you in your greatest
time of need to make sure that we can build
a gap between insurance, of whatever systems
that you have.
But these are programs that are available
to you that we want to make sure that you
get what you need.
And the first thing is to contact your insurance
company and file a claim for disaster call
damage.
We want you to take photos or videos of the
damaged and keep all the receipts related
to whole repair.
If you have underinsured, or uninsured losses,
this is where we come in.
This is where we come in with the individual
assistance program.
And the first thing to do is register.
I know we've tried to get a media blitz to
get folks to register.
So this is how you do it.
We have a FEMA app that you can use on your
smartphone or your tablet.
You just download the FEMA app, or you can
go online on the web with disasterassistance.gov.
That's disasterassistance.gov.
Disaster assistance, one word.
Or, you can do the old fashioned way to register
by calling 1-800-621-3362.
1-800-621-3362.
That's 621-FEMA.
And also you can call 1-800-462-7585.
And the helpline is available on Pacific Standard
Time, from 7am to 10:30pm at night.
Also, in addition to mentioned about the individual
systems, we have approved for this disaster,
the critical needs assistance program.
This is a one time payment per household to
assist with life saving, life sustaining needs,
such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions,
diapers and other critical needs.
But the critical thing to be eligible for
that are the critical dates that you need
to register by the 5th of September.
And so let's get the word out to yourselves
and also to everyone that you know, that was
impacted by this in the designated counties.
For any assistance, you need to register,
but for the critical needs assistance, please
register by the 5th.
And with that, registering by the 5th, if
you're eligible and you qualify, that payment
will be made to the individuals.
So important, my biggest issue is make sure
you register.
The more details you have on hand for individual
assistance to help you when you call, and
we can make sure we can get these things out
to you in the media blitz as well, is your
social security number, your available insurance
policy information, address of damaged primary
dwellings, a description of disaster caused
damage and losses, a current mailing address,
a current telephone number, and total household
annual income.
These are a few of the things that if you
have that at the ready, when you call, it
could help the process a little bit faster.
But if you don't have that at the ready, call
anyway, because we need you to register.
So with that, I'll stop there and I'll be
open for questions later.
Thank you for the opportunity, standing by
for questions.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Willie, thank you very
much.
Now we'll go to SBA Kevin Wynn.
Kevin, you might have to unmute.
[Katie] So I think he is having a bit of technical
trouble.
He's about to jump back on, Mike.
So maybe we can move on to the next person.
Well, let's go to USDA.
Jeff, are you ready?
[Jeff Yasui] I am ready and I do have a virtual
PowerPoint.
I'm going to pop up there because one, it
gets my face off the screen, I hope, and secondly,
it will keep me on pace also.
So I'm going to turn that on.
Did the PowerPoint come up?
Someone nod, I guess.
It is up.
Okay.
Perfect.
My name is Jeff Yasui.
I'm the Director for USDA Risk Management
Agency.
We are the agency that oversees crop insurance
although we're not the ones that are delivering
it.
It does mean it's delivered by the crop insurance
companies and their agents
In general, crop insurance covers production
losses, we also have considerations for quality
reductions.
If you get a paid half the price you were
expecting for your crop, based on our price
structures, we would only count half that
production.
So we would make adjustments based on prices.
There's many different options.
Many of you already have crop insurance, but
you can get coverage levels up from 50%, up
to 85%.
And you can also get price elections from
59% up to 100% of the price.
The higher you go, the more it's going to
cost but also the less loss it will take for
you to qualify for a loss.
The good thing about crop insurance is that
it's highly subsidized.
Our subsidy rates go from the basic catastrophic
coverage of 100%.
Of 50% coverage, we will subsidize 100% of
the premium.
There will still be a fee of $655.
We do ensure by variety that's good for California.
It's not done in every state, every state
would like it, but California has it.
A couple of other states also have it.
And if you do need additional information,
definitely contact your agent.
Sales closing date was January 31.
So for the 2020 year, it obviously has already
passed, just like all other insurances, you
have to have insurance before the damage is
there.
We have crop insurance for grapes in most
counties in California and the grapes have
to be at least fourth leaf or third leaf grafted,
and they must have had a history that they've
produced at least two tons breaker.
Like I mentioned before, the delivery is sold
by agents and delivered by companies.
Just some basic statistics for Lake, Napa,
and Sonoma County.
Shout out to Napa and Sonoma.
You guys in Napa: it is the third largest
liability crop county.
So $276.9 million in liability in Napa, and
Sonoma $263.6 million.
They're both for a single crop, some of the
highest totals across the nation.
But for California, Napa is #3 and I believe
Sonoma is #6.
Our participation rate on this table shows
Lake County, about 88% of the acreage is insured.
In Napa, it's a little bit lower at 60%, and
Sonoma 67%.
What I do want to mention is that we have
paid for wildfire losses in the past.
If you look at the far right column, it shows
that for Lake County, we did over $5 million
in 2018.
In Napa County, 2017 was $3.4 million and
in 2017 to 2019, they're both near $2 million.
I know you'd prefer to get paid on your crop
and not crop insurance, but you know, crop
insurance is a safety net that hopefully will
be able to help people.
The one column just to the left of that talks
about indemnities.
I didn't want to show what people were paying
last year.
But I think the point I want to make here
is I have something in there called producer
loss ratio.
What that is really telling me is that over
the long run, you are getting more money in
indemnities than amount of premium paid.
So if you look at Lake County in 2019, that
$3.82 means that for every dollar of premium
that you paid, crop insurance gave you back
$3.82.
So it's there to help.
I realized the lower the number, it's better,
at least on the production side, but we do
have a safety net there.
Obviously, wildfire, that's what we're here
for.
Wildfire is an insurable cost of loss, we
will cover it.
Resulting smoke taint is also covered.
These are determinations that must be made
by the loss adjuster from the company.
One key thing here, a couple of key things,
but one key thing is if you have the occurrence,
of any occurrence, whether it be wildfire,
whether it be excessive rain, excessive cold,
excessive heat, anything that's an insurable
cost of loss, you must contact your agent
within 72 hours to document that you had an
occurrence.
That way if they have to, they can send a
loss adjuster out to take a look at it.
So if you haven't contacted your agent yet,
make sure you contact them right after this
meeting, hopefully.
Lab tests.
I know it's a concern.
There are only one or two labs out there that
are able to do the testing we've heard now
I don't know if it's COVID-related currently.
Our loss adjustment procedures indicate that
there must be an elevated level of the chemical
markers that are used identify smoke taint.
We haven't pinpointed it, we're not going
to tell the loss adjusters which ones they
are because I do believe it could be different
by variety or by, you know, whatever the buyer
is looking at.
But as of right now, lab test is required,
and the sample must be obtained prior to any
commingling to show that the loss did not
occur after harvest.
But the key thing is the sample must be obtained
prior to commingling.
Like I just mentioned, I do know there is
a concern about lack of labs out there.
It's something that we can't change immediately.
I don't know if there is a resolution for
it.
But I'd be happy to work with the Congressman's
office to see if we can find a solution, possibly
if the unavailability of the labs is due to
COVID, it might be some leverage that we could
use to possibly come to a resolution on that.
We are aware that there is only one or two
labs and they are probably going to be overwhelmed.
For more information, I'm going to start off
with contact your agent.
We also have an RMA website that has the policy
information, program information.
And if you don't have insurance this year,
you're not gonna be able to get it at this
point.
But if you want to look to the future, there
is an agent locator.
My office is located in Davis, California,
you can call, leave a message, you could leave
a general email.
This is our general email box.
And I think in the very first slide, I actually
had my own email, which is Jeff.yasui@usda.gov.
So there are ways of contacting us but your
primary contact probably should be your agent
first because if you want to try to file a
notice of loss with me that's not going to
help you any you need to go to your agent
to do that.
I'm going to move over to Farm Service Agency
programs.
It's another branch that the USDA Farm Service
Agency administers commodity programs disaster
and various disaster programs and farm operating
loans.
So one of the programs that's really relevant
for the Farm Service Agency and it could be
relevant to you all is the Tree Assistance
Program.
This program is currently available.
It's to replant or rehabilitate vines that
are destroyed or damaged by the fire or other
any other natural disaster.
It's a cost share program.
What that means is that you would do the work
and the USDA Farm Service Agency would reimburse
you for a high percentage of that.
The percentages I think they can go up to
90% at the highest level, but I'm not positive
on that.
You need to sign up within 90 days of the
date the damage becomes a parent or the occurrence
of the natural disaster.
Very important.
You can't start a project until the application
is approved.
You start the project and the application
hasn't been approved yet, you're just basically
disqualified.
There is an average Adjusted Gross Income
amount on this one, meaning that if your adjusted
gross income on average exceeds $900,000,
you would not be eligible for this program.
All of this you need to apply for at the local
FSA office.
And I'll show you where those are at the end
of the next couple of slides.
And they will also be able to provide you
with more information.
A second program that FSA has is the Emergency
Conservation Program.
This is to rehabilitate farmland and conservation
structures damaged by natural disasters, perhaps
drip lines, things like that, that are conservation-minded
practices that you have that have been destroyed.
It's also a cost share program.
So once again, you do the work.
And once again, you don't start the project
until the application is approved.
But you do the work, you turn in your bills,
and they'll give you a pay for a percentage
of it.
The deadline to sign up, it's basically as
soon as possible.
You need to go into your county FSA office
or contact them to let them know that you
want to apply.
There is a payment limitation for it.
We, FSA, will not pay more than $500,000 per
person.
They have a lot of different rules on it.
It's a simple sentence to say, but it's a
very complicated rule.
And once again, this is at the county FSA
office.
Lastly, emergency loans, they're low interest
loans available in disaster declared counties
and contiguous counties, there's all different
kinds of loans you can get there must be a
30% loss, you must also be unable to obtain
a commercial loan and you need to sign up
for this within 8 months of the disaster.
And that's at the FSA office also Your FSA
offices for Mendocino and Lake Counties are
in Ukiah, for Napa counties in Vacaville,
and for Sonoma County, it's in Petaluma.
You could also go to the FSA website farmers.gov,
which is a general USDA website also and you
get back sheets and general information there.
The state FSA office is located in Davis,
California.
And the director is Connie Conway and Navdeep
Dhillon is here to answer questions if they
come up regarding these programs.
That's all I got.
And it was quick.
[Katie] Mike, I think you're muted.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Jeff, thank you.
Navdeep, do you have remarks to make or are
you just there for questions?
[Navdeep Dhillon] And no, I'm just here for
questions.
And the only thing I would like to mention
is that for the cap program, it's a cost share
program but we don't pay a percentage.
We have set rates by vine and by acre.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Great.
Okay, we'll go to SBA now.
Kevin, are you back with us?
[Kevin Wynne] Yes, Congressman, thank you.
I apologize for that.
And I'm kind of glad I did go off because
USDA went first in the FSA because generally
agricultural enterprises aren't eligible for
SBA disaster assistance.
We do loans for homeowners, renters, non farm
businesses and private nonprofit organizations.
That means if the primary residence of the
farmer, we can cover that as well and as well
as any renters on site, we can make loads
for them as well.
We look at three things, the credit history,
the repayment ability, and the fact that the
home is on the declared disaster area, the
county which will be Napa in this case or
Sonoma.
Interest rates are relatively really low,
1.1% for home loans.
Our business loans are 3% if they do qualify.
We're not turning anyone away, but we do emphasize
that you submit what's requested with the
application.
We'll look at the application and determine
if you do qualify for a business loan.
But generally, you follow the FSA and USDA
guidelines when applying for Agricultural
Disaster Assistance loans as well.
File the application by October 21st.
And economic injury disaster loans are due
May 24th as well.
I'll be available to answer any questions
following this.
But like I said, we will do primary residents
on the disaster damage property and looking
for helping folks with the disaster, Congressman,
and I'll be here for questions as well.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] All right, Kevin, thank
you so much.
I want to remind everybody, if you have a
question, please go to your question and answer
bar and type it in and/or "like" any questions
that you see that you would believe you would
benefit from hearing an answer.
So Katie, let's go to you.
And you can start asking some of the questions
that have come in.
[Katie] All right.
So first question, this person says: What
assistance, if any, is available for wine
grapes damaged by smoke taint?
[Navdeep Dhillon] Well, for uninsured crops,
actually, for crop insurance, as Jeff said
they would cover if you have insurance.
For uninsured grapes, currently, there is
not a program that would cover that FSA has.
We do currently have a program for the 2019
wildfire losses, but nothing for the 2020
wildfire losses at this point.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Ok Navdeep, I mentioned
earlier that we're trying to trigger that
Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnification Program
and I'm working on that in the House, lining
up support to bring that back online for this
disaster cycle.
And I feel pretty confident that we're going
to be successful.
So hopefully that will that will be there.
[Navdeep Dhillon] Thank you.
[Katie] All right.
Next question.
This person says: For the USDA representatives,
smoke taint is difficult to document in advance
of harvest with the backup and the only lab
capable of testing for smoke taint markers.
What do you recommend for those of us with
crop insurance that requires pre-harvest testing?
And are there other resources from USDA to
help?
[Jeff Yasui] As of right now, our rules do
require that we have a lab test that shows
elevated levels of smoke taint, the markers
are creating smoke taint.
I would be happy to work with the Congressman
to see if there's something we could do to
resolve the situation but as of right now,
as far as crop insurance is concerned, it
does require a lab test.
Unfortunately, we don't have any labs available,
apparently.
So, Mr. Congressman.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Well, I'm happy to work
with you.
It sounds like we ought to bring into the
fold our local ag community to figure out
how we can develop those resources or identify
resources that can be brought into play to
deal with this.
I'm like you, Jeff.
I don't have any lab capacities, but we ought
to be able to figure something out.
There's got to be some lab opportunities around
and if this is a problem, we should really
get our heads together.
Yeah.
[Navdeep Dhillon] Congressman, when you do
approve a program for uninsured producers,
we want to address that in the legislation,
on how I make sure that we address that if
they don't have a test.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Yeah, I mean, it's pretty
obvious if someone's grapes are rejected by
the winery.
You know, I'm not quite sure what role the
lab would would play.
They're either accepted or they're rejected.
And if they're rejected, that grower is out
of luck, so we ought to be able to address
this.
[Katie] All right.
So the next question is similar to what you
just mentioned, Congressman.
This person says: I'm a wine grape grower
in Sonoma County.
My grapes still on the vines have been rejected
by my winery buyer.
I do have insurance but it will not cover
my costs.
What method of financial assistance will be
provided for Sonoma County farmers like me?
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Nandeep, do you want
to take that?
I mean, the crop insurance isn't going to
cover the entire cost.
[Navdeep Dhillon] Yeah, if Congress legislates
another program, similar to the one that we
had for the 2019 fires, the assistance that
FSA provides is an addition to your crop insurance
and indemnity.
We reduce the payment by whatever you receive
for crop insurance, but you do get an additional
payment if there is one.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] It's still it's not going
to cover the whole loss rates.
It's better than nothing.
[Navdeep Dhillon] Correct.
[Katie] All right.
Okay.
Next question.
This person says: We are looking for information
on loss of grazing lands because of the wildfire.
We have lost our lease because the fencing
and grazing lands were destroyed.
[Navdeep Dhillon] So FSA has two separate
programs depending on whether you're leasing
federal and state land or federal land or
if you have private land.
We do have programs that provide assistance
either, you know, we there isn't any we can't
provide land for you to graze, but we can
provide financial assistance so you can buy
feed for your livestock.
So contact your local FSA office.
There's an Emergency Livestock Assistance
Program and also the Livestock Forage Program.
Both of those are available.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] And I'll just add also
and this applies to anyone on the webinar,
our friends and family outside of those in
attendance, but you can always call my office
as well, and I can help facilitate the meetings
between the different state and federal agencies.
[Katie] All right, next question.
This person says smoke taint lab results are
taking up to 30 days to return.
If growers harvest while waiting for test
results, are they less eligible for crop insurance
through some agents or providers?
[Jeff Yasui] With crop insurance, we do know
that people are going to begin their lab tests
and the lab results could take time.
We're aware of that.
You should go ahead and harvest because if
you don't, and you're losing it in the field,
and the test comes back with no markers, again,
not going have anything, you won't have any
crop to harvest.
So do what you normally do.
I don't see how you'd be less eligible.
The crop insurance companies are aware of
what's going on.
You need to harvest the crop and do everything
like you normally would do.
You should not be delaying your harvest because
that would cause or could cause further degradation
of your crop.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Jeff, what happens if
someone, this example that was just given
in the question, what happens if someone takes
your advice and harvests and then their fruit
is rejected, then they have no home for their
fruit and they've incurred the additional
cost of harvesting and transportation?
[Jeff Yasui] Yeah, I mean, if they don't harvest
it, if they indicate to their loss adjuster,
they're not going to harvest it, the loss
adjuster can do an appraisal, and at that
point in time to help determine what the indemnity
amounts are going to be.
The loss adjuster needs to look do an appraisal
to make sure there's no further degradation
of the crop.
It's a tough question to answer because it's
a decision that the growers have to make that's
going to incur costs.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] At a minimum, it's going
to add transportation.
[Jeff Yasui] Yes.
You got a lot.
You know, the harvest costs are out there.
There are a lot of costs that, you know, it'd
be if their crop is going to get rejected
if they don't get crop insurance or if they
don't have a buyer, they probably would have
been better off just dropping into the ground.
And the problem with that is is that you hit,
you still have those costs, but crop insurance
may or may not cover you, but it's all gonna
depend on the lab test.
So I don't really have a solid advice to give,
but if you are not going to harvest make sure
the loss adjuster does know that you aren't
going to harvest because they'll need to do
an appraisal.
If you don't harvest and they don't have an
appraisal, they're not going to pay you in
any indemnity at all, even if you do have
small part with the markers in there.
So make sure you do tell your loss adjuster
everything.
And this can be another item that we try to
work with, with your office, Congressmen,
to see could there be some solutions out there
because of the two reasons: lack of a lab
and the time it's going to take to get test
results back.
This isn't something that really occurred
in previous wildfires and in previous wildfires,
we were able to get, for the most part, timely
lab tests back.
And also we were able to have enough labs
out there to fulfill what was needed.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] And this fire event is
much earlier than the past one.
There's a lot more exposure for growers.
Katie, next question.
[Katie] All right, this person says: I'm interested
in any information on USDA LFP or ELAP.
I'm a beef cattle producer that lost a large
acreage of pasture and grazing ground.
[Navdeep Dhillon] So I'd recommend that you
contact your local FSA office and our offices
are not taking in-person appointments but
they're working with producers via email,
phone call, so just contact your local FSA
office and they should be able to assist you
[Katie] Alright, next question.
This person says: I'm interested in any possible
help to repair cattle fencing damaged by the
fires.
[Navdeep Dhillon] So that's our Emergency
Conservation Program.
That's the goal.
That's what that program is designed to help
with fencing, any conservation instructors,
if you have debris on your farmland that needs
to be removed to bring the land back to pre-production,
pre-disaster condition.
So the Emergency Conservation Program also
applies in the vineyards as well.
So to help you with repairing the fences,
your irrigation systems, to remove the trees,
you can apply for both programs, the CAP program
and ECP on the same field, but we may pay
you one or the other for the different activities
that happened on the farm.
Yeah.
So FSA has got a lot that's available for
your growers.
[Katie] All right.
Next question.
This person says: Similar to other questions
that have been asked, what disaster assistance
is available for those who don't have crop
insurance or aren't eligible for coverage
through their provider for the type of loss
they have?
They say only 60% of Napa County growers have
crop insurance and some people may not be
eligible based on their plan.
[Navdeep Dhillon] Right now, if you either
have crop insurance or you have FSA's version
of crop insurance, which is a non-assured
crop Disaster Assistance Program, without
additional legislation, as the Congressman
said that he's working on, there really isn't
anything available from FSA on production
losses.
However, losses to your Emergency Conservation,
for your tree removal, to prepare fences,
irrigation systems, that's available and we'll
wait and see what happens on the production
losses.
[Katie] All right.
Next question.
This person says: As a wine producer, I don't
want to accept grapes with smoke taint due
to all the costs.
With over 4,000 samples at the local lab,
we may not be able to get proof of smoke taint
other than starting fermentation.
Are you working with our local Ag Commissioner
to remedy this for us?
[Jeff Yasui] We have been in contact with
Cog and other buyers and trying to figure
out if there is a solution for this, like
I had mentioned with other questions, we are
aware of the problems with the labs.
We want to make sure they can get something
out timely, I don't have a quick resolution
at this point.
It's something that's going to have to be
worked out.
I've also been in contact with all the crop
insurance companies that are providing coverage
for grapes in Napa, in the valley.
And they're aware of it, we're trying to figure
out the best way to work through it within
the regulations that we have, but we may have
to see if there's any other ways of doing
some resolution on this.
I appreciate the question.
I think we've had a few others like this,
and definitely making notes here and trying
to figure out a way to resolve the situation
to the best of tje growers out there.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] But Jeff, just to reiterate,
this is different than any previous year,
because of the amount of fruit that's still
on the vine.
So it's going to exacerbate the problem.
So if you could, you know, really dig down
and help figure that out.
If there's anything I can do to assist you,
please let me know.
[Jeff Yasui] Definitely, definitely we are
trying to find solutions.
[Katie] All right.
Well, next question.
This person says: When do you expect to have
some news about your efforts to reenact the
WHIP program?
And how long do you think this will take?
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Well, I'm working on
it right now.
And I suspect it'll be part of whatever the
end game is in passing a budget and keeping
the government open and doing a coronavirus
relief package.
So I think it'll be all part of that.
And I suspect that will be sometime this month,
probably closer to the end than to the middle.
[Katie] All right.
Next question.
This person says: If additional assistance
is approved for smoke taint without insurance,
how will we be notified to know to submit
an application?
[Rep. Mike Thompson] I will certainly let
people know.
Like, if I get the bill, just so you know,
it was my program last time we did it.
And I tried to let everybody know.
And I'll do the same this time.
And I suspect that all of our partners in
the ag community will let people know as well.
[Navdeep Dhillon] Yes, FSA, once we get the
program, we will definitely send out information.
As soon as we get it.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Sky writers, airplanes.
No fireworks!
[Katie] All right, next question.
This person says: While we are waiting for
WHIP to pass through the House, what should
growers be documenting or doing to set themselves
up for being eligible when that assistance
becomes available?
Should we be freezing grapes for testing later
or testing now, documenting rejection letters?
Any advice you have would be great.
[Navdeep Dhillon] Yes, I think whatever you
can get, it'll be great.
So I think letters from your buyers will be
acceptable, tests will probably follow the
same suit, whatever crop insurance does.
And so very similar to when Jeff comes up
with the solution, I will be sure to keep
good notes on it.
Because we will probably use the same type
of documentation.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] It's always better to
be over-documented than under-documented and
I think I would use that as kind of a rough
rule of thumb and try to collect all of the
data you can and and have that recorded and
be ready to go.
It certainly won't hurt.
[Katie] All right.
Next question.
This person says: is the EFRP, the Emergency
Forest Restoration Program, currently available
to farmers who had undeveloped land in its
natural state?
[Navdeep Dhillon] The EFRP program is for
reestablishing private forests.
So if you had trees or you had a timber harvest
plan or you were going to sell the timber
that was on that land, then we could possibly
help under the EFRP program.
[Katie] All right, just a quick reminder that
if you have a question, please use the question
and answer feature usually at the bottom of
your screen, and if you see a question please
"like" it.
So the next question, someone during the presentation
mentioned a cap program and this person would
like a little bit more information about what
that is.
[Jeff Yasui] That could have been me and it
could have been me talking like a used car
salesman, not to disrespect the car salesman,
TV salesman.
I think it is probably the TAP, the Tree Assistant
Program, and that is administered by
Navdeep
And it's basically to rehabilitate a replant,
in with the case of wine, of grapes and vineyards
that have been destroyed by wildfire.
And they would go in there and pay a cost
share, in other words, they would help you
pay for the costs to do these operations.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] Jeff, would that be just
trees and vines are could that have a forestry
application as well?
[Navdeep Dhillon] TAP does not have a forestry
application.
We have a separate program for the forest.
That's the EFRP, Emergency Forest Restoration
Program.
[Katie] All right, so next and probably the
last question, unless some more appear in
the next couple of seconds.
This person is wondering, Mike, if this recording
will be available on your website or on your
Facebook page at any point?
[Rep. Mike Thompson] We could most certainly
make that available.
I don't think that's a problem.
Our technical people, if that's incorrect,
please let me know.
But I'll try and try and make that happen.
[Katie] Awesome.
So I think that's the last question.
[Rep. Mike Thompson] All right, I'll wrap
it up.
Do any of our guests have anything they want
to close with?
Well, I'll wrap up by just thanking our special
guests for joining us and I know you guys
are working around the clock to minimize the
hit that everybody's taken.
And I really appreciate all of your effort
and I thank you very, very much for that.
As far as our our participants go, thank you
for joining us.
I am sincerely sorry for any any loss that
you've incurred or any problems that you're
having as a result of this, and I pledge that
I'll work to try and minimize that as much
as I can.
I encourage you to contact me, let me know
if you see problems that haven't been covered
today or if you need more information.
I'm ready to be the go between the the agency
experts and folks on the ground.
So please use my office.
Katie, thank you for doing another outstanding
job on the webinar.
And everybody, please be safe.
Make sure that you remember that we have also
this COVID disaster going on, too.
So be careful, be safe, and let's make sure
we get through this as quickly and painlessly
as we possibly can.
Thank you again, everyone.
[Kevin Wynne] Thanks, Congressman.
