Amarillo, TX - Farmers in the Texas Panhandle may qualify for Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Beginning Nov. 14, the USDA will be accepting applications for federal aid.
Most area farmers across the Panhandle have watched their crops wither away with one of the driest years in the books.
The Farm Bill of 2008 is supposed to be the key in providing assistance, but there's a problem.
"We are not looking at 2011 losses just yet," Dede Jones with Texas Agrilife said. "The signup that started today is for 2010 losses."
Those effected by this year's drought will likely see rain before relief.
"Honestly the signup will probably be a year from now," she said.
The aid will not land in the haystack for those with dying horses either.
"There's not a whole lot of relief in sight for the hay prices," she said.
"Texas was trying to get some state assistance on getting hay down here," John Harshbarger says.
That relief has yet to arrive. Farmers who lost crops such as wheat and corn are eligible for assistance, but don't expect a check anytime soon.
"They have a federal disaster program and like all government programs, there are rules and set time periods," Jones said.
She also says it's only a matter of time before aid reaches victims of this year's drought.
"Relief is coming and it's a lot quicker that it was when it first launched," Jones said. "It's still going to be about a year."
While no end date has been set for this aid program, we're told farmers can expect to see a check within 90-120 days following the enrollment end period.
For more information, visit www.usda.gov/
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