May 14, 1999

Senate and House conferees have wound up their work on the fiscal 1999 supplemental spending bill, earmarking $574 million for agriculture. The bill now goes back to both chambers for final passage expected next week. Here's a breakout of the ag spending section: $20 million for emergency grants to seasonal workers; $145 million for Section 32 commodities; $42.75 to the Farm Service Agency for additional personnel to help process farm program applications; $109.6 million for farm loan programs (that means $1.1 billion in farm loans can be guaranteed) $28 million for emergency conservation; $28 million for the CCC-funded conservation program (another $28 million was included for fiscal 2000); $70 million for livestock disaster assistance; $3 million for the livestock indemnity program; $95 million for watersheds and flood prevention; $30 million for rural communities, and $2.5 million for rural housing. Another $149.2 million was included elsewhere in the spending bill for P.L. 480 food aid to the refugees in the Balkans.