Some farmers are still feeling the effects of October’s flooding. One Rio Grande Valley farmer told he welcomes the federal help. Gary Busse is a part of a long line of farmers. His family has more than 1,500 acres of land. Busse said most farmers complain about dealing with a drought. This has changed since the heavy storms in October. "These last two years have been just clobbered for farmers,” Busse said. “Our expenses are up, our costs are up and our production is down.” Busse’s farm was hit hard by the flooding. He said he’s had up to 19 inches of rain on his land. “We would have started it in September, October,” he said. “We're running behind and every little shower throws us out for a couple of weeks or months." Production is being delayed on Busse’s farm. "When you don't get your crop in on time, the expenses go up, the insect problems go up, chances of a hurricane catching up before you get it harvested go up," Busse said. Busse and other farmers in declared disaster areas can now receive disaster assistance from the Farm Service Agency and the Small Business Administration. FEMA will also assist all victims at each recovery center. “We will provide them the information, we'll advise them, give them the documentation they need, such as pamphlets, and the number needed,” said FEMA spokesperson Alberto Pillot. Busse said he will look into how the government agencies will help keep his product alive. “If we can do something that'll increase our chances of survival, we'll definitely use it,” Busse said. Pillot said they have not had any farmers register yet. They could be eligible for up to $500,000 in loans. Source - www.krgv.com