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April 21, 2000
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passes Freedom to E-file Bill
The House recently passed legislation allowing farmers to file government-required information over the Internet. The Freedom to E-file Act directs the Agriculture Department to develop a procedure for farmers to retrieve department forms and file the paperwork online. The system must be in place within 180 days. Within two years, the completed system must be fully operational. The bill also requires USDA to have information on farm programs, quarterly trade, and economic and production reports posted on the Internet. Farmers have the option to file electronically or on paper, and the legislation ensures the information sent over the Internet would be treated as confidential. The purpose given for the legislation is to allow farmers to spend less time traveling to government offices to file paperwork and more time on the farm. Sponsor of the House bill is Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.). Source: AFBF Executive News Watch, April 11, 2000
Crop disaster funds insufficient for claims USDA recently announced that the appropriation of $1.3 billion for the crop disaster program authorized last year by Congress, would not be sufficient to cover the $1.85 billion in claims received. USDA calculated that 260,000 farmers would receive about 70 cents on the dollar for losses from drought and other crop disasters. Over $500 million has already been issued as advanced payments, and the balance of the $1.3 billion available for the program will now be issued. According to USDA, all approved applications (approved applications are those which met eligibility and loss requirements and were accepted by the respective county committee) for the 1999 Crop Disaster Program will be pro-rated by 70 percent. For example, if a farmer has been approved to receive $1,000, then actual receipts would be $700. Source: Governmental Relations Bulletin, AFBF, April 6, 2000
U.S. agricultural trade boosts overall economy Production from more than a third of U.S. cropland moved into export channels. U.S. agricultural exports generate employment, income, and purchasing power in both the farm and nonfarm sectors of the economy. Each dollar received from agricultural exports in calendar year 1998 stimulated another $1.30 in supporting activities. The $51.8 billion of agricultural exports in 1998 stimulated an additional $67.9 billion of output. Exports thus generated $119.7 billion in business activity in 1998. Agricultural exports created an estimated 808,000 full-time civilian jobs, including 488,000 jobs in the nonfarm sector. Farmers’ purchases of fuel, fertilizer, and other inputs to produce commodities for export also spurred economic activity in the manufacturing, trade, and transportation sectors. Net agricultural exports in 1998 reduced the merchandise trade deficit by $14.8 billion, a decline from $21 billion in 1997. Source: U.S. Agricultural Trade Update, February 29, 2000
CRP sign-up draws 56,000 offers on 3.5 million acres USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced that landowners made 56,000 offers to include about 3.5 million acres of private land in the conservation reserve program (CRP). The 20th signup period ended Feb. 11 and landowners should know if their offers are accepted by early May. The CRP is based on voluntary agreements between USDA and agricultural producers and landowners. Participants receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance for planting protective cover on fragile agricultural lands to protect and improve the quality of the air, water, soil and wildlife habitat. Land that is offered for enrollment in the 20th signup must compete for acceptance based on an environmental benefits index that is designed to promote an equitable consideration for all offers and all types of eligible land. Texas figures are taken from April 3, 2000 preliminary returns from FSA field offices and can change. Final signup figures and notification or acceptance of offers will be released later. Texas had 1,763 offers involving 266,734 acres at an average payment rate of $37.54 per acre. Source: Governmental Relations Bulletin, AFBF, April 10, 2000 |
