Almost All Supplemental Payments Are Made.

November 9, 1999

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has paid more than 96% of the $5.5 billion provided in the agricultural appropriations bill to supplement farmers who get transition payments under the 1996 farm law. The $5.5 billion is about two-thirds of the $8.3 billion in direct emergency payments to farmers authorized by the fiscal 2000 agricultural appropriations bill.

"We started issuing payments two weeks ago, one business day after President Clinton signed the bill," said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. "We promised to get the money into the hands of farmers in need quickly and we have delivered."

The actual payments made as of Nov. 4 total $5,227,917,879 and that amount is being paid to 1,220,918 producers. It is expected that $5,474,776,480 will be paid in supplemental payments.

Also, farmers are eligible to receive their annual freedom to farm transition payments in fiscal year 2000 in one or two equal payments. Advancing the payment date "will provide additional financial assistance during a time of stress for our farmers," says Glickman. "We need to continue moving forward on many fronts to ensure that American family farmers and ranchers have a strong, secure future on the land."