Glickman Calls for Attention to People in Farm Crisis

September 23, 1999

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman calls for more attention to the "human side" of food production during times of financial crisis. He made the comments at the second meeting of the National Drought Policy Commission Wednesday.

"I am deeply concerned about the ability of smaller, less well capitalized producers to stay in business during times when we're facing both depressed farm prices and a disastrous drought," he said. "We will continue our work with Congress to address the needs of farmers who face serious financial damage or ruin through no fault of their own. We must give farmers and ranchers the tools they need to cope with the increasing volatility in world agricultural markets."

The commission is working to develop an effective long term national drought policy. It will make recommendations to the President and congress on how better to integrate federal drought laws and programs with state, local and tribal programs without infringing on state control of water resources.

Glickman chairs the commission which will work with the White House drought task force to coordinate a federal response to the current drought conditions in parts of 33 states. A draft policy will be distributed for public comment in the next few months with a report to the White House and Congress early next year.