OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is
planning to tour flooded areas in Iowa and Nebraska along the
Missouri River this week.
U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Wednesday in a telephone
conference with reporters that Vilsack, a former Iowa governor,
plans to tour the area on Friday.
Nelson says he hoped to be able to make the tour with Vilsack,
if the Senate schedule allows.
Nelson says Vilsack has assured him that the USDA considers
flooding along the Missouri to be natural disasters, meaning crop
insurance will cover damages.
Vilsack says that for areas to get disaster designations for
additional aid, flooding must result in at least a 30 percent
production loss in a county, and a written request must come from
the governor.