Dear Senator Baucus:
Thank you for your leadership in establishing the framework and funding for a permanent disaster program, which is the highest priority for National Farmers Union (NFU) in the 2007 Farm Bill. We will vigorously oppose any attempts to divert resources from the permanent disaster program to other programs.
One of the few guarantees in agriculture is weather-related disasters will occur somewhere throughout the country. Anyone claiming a permanent disaster program will benefit only a handful of states, needs only to turn on the nightly news and witness the ongoing devastation occurring from coast-to-coast -- extreme drought in the Southeast, flooding in the Midwest and Gulf States and devastating fires in California.
Farmers cannot control the weather, and the permanent disaster program you included in the Heartland, Habitat, Harvest and Horticulture Act of 2007 will provide the assurance producers need to continue another year.
Since 1998, Congress has approved 23 ad hoc disaster bills, totaling $47 billion. With each measure, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has to develop and implement what is often a different program. This is an inefficient bureaucracy that will be mitigated through the permanent disaster program. Further, the disaster assistance passed earlier this year by Congress for losses in 2005, 2006 and 2007 is just now reaching producers; that is a long time to wait for losses that occurred in 2005. Establishment of a permanent disaster program will help alleviate any waste and abuses that have occurred via ad hoc programs, and ensure assistance goes to those who need it the most. This program is not a replacement for risk management programs, but instead will encourage more producers to participate in crop insurance programs.
Again, NFU is in strong support for the permanent disaster program you have created and will work to ensure it is included in the final 2007 Farm Bill.
Sincerely,
Tom Buis, President National Farmers Union
cc: Senator Harkin, Chairman - Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Senator Chambliss, Ranking Member - Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee
Source: Ranking Member’s News
