NASDA Urges Congress To Support Disaster Assistance Aid And Specielty Crop Block Grant Funding
News Date February 07, 2003
On February 3, NASDA sent a letter to congressional appropriators reiterating its support for disaster assistance to all producers who suffered losses due to natural disasters in 2001 and 2002. The letter, signed by NASDA President and Idaho Agriculture Secretary Patrick A. Takasugi, indicated NASDA's appreciation to the Senate for passing a disaster aid package and that NASDA is encouraged Congress is acting to provide necessary assistance to producers. NASDA does have reservations about the method of delivering disaster payments authorized in the Senate version. The letter said, "Providing supplemental payments equal to 42 percent of 2002 direct farm program payments seems an equitable approach for a nationwide economic disaster program, but the recently passed farm bill was designed to deal with this problem. In the case of natural disaster losses, we believe that program delivery requires producer eligibility determinations beyond residence in a county with a disaster declaration." NASDA believes the emphasis on cost control in this package is also good reason for disaster payments to be directed to and received by those most needing meaningful assistance.
NASDA also expressed its strong support for the provision in the FY03 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that would provide $100 million for a specialty crop block grant program and asked that funds be directed to the state entity responsible for agricultural production and regulation. A similar appropriation that was received by state agencies two years ago has been a resounding success (see story on Specialty Crop Task Force).
As of today, conferees of the FY03 Omnibus Appropriations Bill were still negotiating a final package. Reports indicate that the $3.1 billion disaster aid package is still in question and that House appropriators have balked at using discretionary offsets to pay for the agriculture aid. In a statement of administration policy, the White House stated that it prefers to see the money come from mandatory accounts authorized by the farm bill. In the Senate bill, the $3.1 billion is paid for by 2.9 percent across-the-board cut that was also used to pay for increases in education and election reform. Back in September 2002, in a letter to Congress, NASDA suggested that the farm bill should remain intact and not be changed. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)