May 28, 1999

An announcement on changes to the loan deficiency program could come as early as next week, says Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. He told reporters Thursday an announcement could come within a week to 10 days.

Asked if that meant the Office of Management and Budget had okayed the change, Glickman replied that the paperwork was "still within the government."

He also was asked why a national daily average price was being used in the proposed LDP change when county prices differ so much. Parks Shackelford, associate administrator for programs at the Farm Service Agency, replied the law did not require that the loan rate be tied to the county price, and USDA had determined there would be fewer forfeitures under the proposed national daily average.