The Guam Department of Agriculture has completed their post-Typhoon Sinlaku damage assessments for their Crop Loss Compensation Program. Officials now say about $2 million are needed to assist some 500 farms across the island that were impacted by the storm.

Unspent emergency Sinlaku response funds could be used to fund the Crop Loss Compensation Program, which helps assist eligible farmers facing typhoon damages. Legislative Agriculture Committee Chairman Vice Speaker Tony Ada says that's according to communication from the Guam Department of Agriculture. He shared, "On May 1, they got back to us and told us that they were able to complete their assessment and now they are able to work with their farmers directly. Because the appropriation that we gave to them in Public Law 38-124, which gave $25 million for the emergency response, they are going to take the $2 million from there to assist the farmers. So there's no additional appropriation that's going to be needed."

Following the typhoon's passage, agriculture inspectors visited farms across the island to assess the impacts of Sinlaku's wrath. Three community outreach events were also held to discuss their program, which compensates certified bona fide farmers up to $20-thousand from local funds appropriated by the Legislature.

Ada says the department has identified some 500 subsistence and commercial farms are in need of help, requiring about $2 million in total. "The winds that we had for Sinlaku, or the rain that we had, made an impact on the farmers," he continued. "Yes, the winds were probably not as high as our neighbors in the CNMI, but still sustained damages to their crops here on Guam."

The vice speaker adds there will be no public hearings this time around as the funds will come directly from the $25 million already appropriated by senators to the governor for emergency Sinlaku response.

He says utilizing funding that's already available will help fast-track compensation for farmers, who faced a months-long delay in assistance after Typhoon Mawar. "The farmers don't need the help five months from now. They needed it three weeks ago. So their quick, expeditious work on inspection is now being able to show through that and in working with the farmers to pay out their crop loss damages," Ada said.

"The Department of Agriculture with the Deputy Director Glenn Takai will be reaching out to farmers in processing their applications for whatever crop loss application that they will be looking for."

In the meantime, DOAG is accepting applications for the program until March 14.

Federal assistance is also available from the US Department of Agriculture which is offering technical and financial assistance to help farmers and livestock producers in the region recover from Typhoon Sinlaku.