Obama Will Expedite Disaster Aid for Ranchers, Farmers

The Wall Street Journal (online registration required): President Barack Obama will announce plans for his administration to expedite disaster relief to ranchers and farmers in mostly drought-stricken parts of the country during a scheduled visit to Fresno, Calif., Friday.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a briefing with reporters, said the president would announce that about $1 billion in disaster-assistance funds would be dispensed to ranchers and farmers within 60 days after they apply for it, compared to a usual wait of up to eight months.

Read article