As farmers, ranchers and rural Mississippians continue to suffer from prolonged flooding, the American Farm Bureau Federation has been working with the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation to find their members some relief.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall has shown support for Mississippi’s flood victims by writing a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler to encourage the completion of the Yazoo Backwater Pump Project in the South Delta of Mississippi which was vetoed in 2008 by the Environmental Protection Agency under the authority of the Clean Water Act.
In his letter, Duvall explains the history of the Yazoo Backwater Pump Project, as well as the impact the Mississippi Delta is experiencing from the project not being completed.
“This project is one of the final components of the Mississippi River & Tributaries Project (MR&T) enacted by the Flood Control Act of 1941 that has yet to be completed,” Duvall stated in his letter. “In essence, this pump station would provide flood relief for residents in the South Delta who are subject to backwater flooding from planned use of river control structures administered by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, under the MR&T plan.”
“Currently, this area is experiencing one of the longest and most severe backwater flood situations since 1927. Right now, an estimated 550,000 acres are completely flooded, including 225,000 acres of farmland. This continued flooding is causing major economic harm to the residents and businesses in these communities.”
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick expressed gratitude toward Duvall for supporting his fellow Mississippians.
“This letter is back by nearly $6 million other Farm Bureau members,” McCormick said. “AFBF supports our 182,000 members, and I am very grateful for that.”
To read Duvall’s entire letter, click here.