Meeting for Farmers and Growers Aid

### i’m jasmine viel … and i’m marc cota-robles .. consider this: 80-percent of the state’s developed water supply… goes to agriculture … ## with their profits in jeopardy — local and federal departments say they’re now putting “drought assistance” at the fingertips of those who need it… 3 central coast news reporter marissa schwartz got an inside look at how that information is getting to cattle ranchers. she’s on scene in salinas to explain. 3 marc and jas, do you see all this dry grass here? it’s supposed to be green and lush this time of the year. and the fact that it’s so brown, means local cattle ranchers are looking for help. 3 *trt: 1:23 outcue::* to their cattle. :01-:10 :42-:48 :50-1:03 1:17-1:23 90-percent of all grass pastures for cattle in monterey county were a loss last year.. that’s according to the u-s-d-a and only those who pay for disaster assistance were able to recoup some of the loss. but cattle ranchers say money from the feds doesn’t mean the cows get fed. “i mean there’s no free money. everything costs something.” we paid a visit to cattleman scott violini last month on his ranch along highway 68. violini is acutely aware of the kind of dedication it takes to run a successful business. he’s a 4th generation monterey county livestock producer. when it costs more for him to feed his cattle, he starts looking at what he can sell. now he’s sifting through the facts at an informational session at the monterey county agricultural center for producers like himself. “hay is roughly between 250 to 300 dollars a ton. if there’s some channels where we can recoup some of that cost, maybe not for me, but the information is out there, then i’d like to see what’s its all about.” i spoke with several other cattleman from the lockwood area who say the lack of rain has been devistating and now they’re just trying to figure out how to survive. the u-s-d-a is 3 putting out two new programs to help out with the lack of grass for cattle to graze on. “immediate water assistance if they need to install some structures to get water to their cattle.” 3 tonight i asked a few people about the new farm bill, signed into law earlier this month. cattle ranchers say they’re still trying to figure out what it all means for them, because assistance has been promised. in salinas, ms yccn.