The Agriculture Department reports that it has been on top of the program since March 1 , when a drought task force was established . A " USDA Backgrounder " was released listing actions . The only actions which involved farmers were an extra $ 50 million to buy beef for feeding programs and allowing farmers to buy $ 100 million worth of meat . Actions have included allowing use for grazing and hay cutting of acreage in conservation programs , Congressional hearings , congressional meetings , news conferences , daily weather updates , a toll - free hotline on federal services available , and crop monitoring .
The Agriculture Department reports that it has been on top of the drought since March 1, when a drought task force was established. A "USDA Backgrounder" was released listing actions. The only two which involved money were an extra $50 million to buy beef for feeding programs and allowing Mexico to buy $40 million worth of meat. Actions have included allowing use for grazing and hay cutting of acreage in conservation programs, Congressional briefings, interagency meetings, news conferences, daily weather updates, a toll-free hotline on federal services available, and crop surveys.