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Texas Agriculture Archive

October 4, 2002

HB 5383, introduced by Reps. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) and Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), would provide disaster assistance for crop and livestock producers who have experienced weather-related losses in 2001 and 2002.

The Senate amendment to the appropriations bill includes approximately $3.8 billion in crop disaster programs, and more than $1.2 billion for the Livestock Assistance Program.

In a letter to the full House on Sept. 23, the American Farm Bureau Federation and 30 other agricultural organizations urged lawmakers to quickly pass emergency disaster assistance similar to the Senate-adopted provisions.

"The weather-related disasters have reduced both production levels and product quality at no fault of America's farmers and ranchers," the letter said. "Although much improved, existing risk management programs are unable to adequately address disasters of the magnitude experienced by producers during the last two production years."

The organizations said it is imperative that the legislation be enacted before Congress breaks in October in order to meet the needs of the agricultural community "in a timely and efficient manner."

Steve Pringle, Texas Farm Bureau's national legislative director, said, "This relief package is extremely important to our producers, particularly out in the Lubbock region and various spotted regions across the whole state. South Texas has really been impacted by drought the last two years, as well as certain areas in Central Texas. The rains didn't come right for our corn crop this year. We had a short corn crop. And last year, I think everybody knows, was a very bad year for our state."

Pringle said the U.S. House already cleared its version of the FY03 Interior appropriations bill, which does not contain agricultural disaster assistance language.

"It will be much more difficult for the House to pass legislation. However, we're going to be talking to members of the Texas delegation to try to get it done, and we will make it clear we don't want to take funds from the farm bill," Pringle added.

The administration continues to call for budget offsets, saying Congress should provide aid for the farmers by taking money from the $180 billion, six-year farm bill passed in May, including implementing spending cuts to offset the bill.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman has announced a $752 million drought aid package aimed at helping drought-stricken ranchers maintain herds of livestock.

Although details were not available at press time, the package reportedly would provide ranchers with direct cash payments.

AFBF said it welcomes the administration action to help ranchers, but insists a full-scale package is vital.

"We still have to have some assistance for crops," said AFBF's Mary Kay Thatcher.

USDA also announced that farmers and ranchers in designated areas will be eligible for low-interest emergency loans.

Those loans are traditionally made to producers in declared disaster areas where drought, floods and other natural disasters have had devastating effects.

Producers must meet certain requirements to be eligible for the loans, such as physical loss of livestock or livestock products, or at least 30 percent loss in production.

The loans can be used to replace property, cover production costs or pay for living expenses.