Peterson Statement on Farm Service Agency's WHIP+ Signup

(Washington, D.C.) Representative Collin Peterson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, released this statement following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that they would be finalizing the sign-up for Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses and beginning the sign-up for WHIP+ quality loss payments for those years.

“I was glad to see the USDA announcing that producers who have been waiting to get assistance for their 2019 quality losses will be able to sign up for that assistance in coming weeks,” said Peterson. “I also hope that an end date for sign-up on WHIP+ losses means that producers waiting for the second half of their payment on 2019 losses should be receiving it soon. The 2019 crop season was one of the most difficult for many farmers, including those in my district, and I know producers will be glad to take this final step to put those memories behind them.”

Peterson added, “I also want to thank the Farm Agency Service local office employees who have worked countless hours trying to deliver ad hoc trade aid, COVID relief, and the WHIP/WHIP+ programs in addition to their ongoing duties, as farmers struggled to deal with the natural disasters, tariffs wars, and the impacts of COVID-19.”