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President Signs Ag Appropriations Measure

President Clinton signed FY2000 agriculture appropriations bill of nearly $70 billion on Oct. 22, including $8.7 billion in emergency aid for US farmers.

Ag Secretary Glickman told reporters after signing that Clinton expressed his concern that farm spending bill would perpetuate problems caused by '96 farm act, but "(President) said it was better to sign the billto get program payments out to farmers as soon as we can." He said spendingbill was very complicated, and while some payments to farmers could be made in as little as 2 to 3 weeks, other payments would take considerable time to process.

The measure includes funding for normal USDA activities and programs (research, conservation, market development, etc.) for FY2000, as well as $8.7 billion in emergency financial assistance for farmers and ranchers. The emergency assistance package includes:

  • $5.45 billion for a supplemental economic assistance payment equivalent to '99 AMTA payment;
  • $475 million for direct payments to soybean and minor oilseed producers;
  • reinstatement of cotton's Step 2 competitiveness provision through 2003;
  • $1.2 billion for weather-related crop losses;
  • an increase in the limitation on marketing loan gains and LDPs to $150,000 per person for crop year '99;
  • authorization for generic marketing certificates, which could further relieve marketing problems associated with limitations on marketing loan gains and LDPs; and,
  • funds to allow USDA to extend a 30% discount on buy-up crop insurance coverage for CY99-00.

    There are also provisions for assistance for dairy, livestock, specialty crops, peanuts, tobacco and sugar.

    "Let me say that I am disappointed that Congress didn't come through with more assistance for farmers and ranchers who suffered this year," Clinton says. "This summer's drought and Hurricane Floyd and other natural disasters have inflicted literally billions of dollars in agricultural damage, and we need to do more to help those farmers who have incurred these losses through no fault of their own. Congress also has not responded effectively to the crisis facing many farms because of the sustained low prices of most commodities. This is the second year in a row that substantial federal assistance has been needed above and beyond our regular farm programs."

    Clinton also said the '96 farm bill did not do enough to help farmers and ranchers in crisis, does not give them tools needed to thrive in short and long terms and doesn't direct payments to where they're most needed. "The bottom line is this: we need to revise, revamp and improve the '96 farm bill," Clinton says. "So, once again, I urge Congress to work to fix the farm bill permanently, so American farmers can have an adequate safety net."