Corn Growers Call for Drought Task Force

August 1, 2002

Due to what he terms is the serious impact of the continuing drought on crop and livestock producers, Tim Hume, president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman urging the USDA to immediately form a task force to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the losses caused by drought conditions over the last two years.

Damages caused by the widespread, prolonged drought include substantial reductions in crop yields, forced liquidation of cattle herds, increases in crop pests and diseases, critically low water supplies and decimated forage, NCGA said.

"The NCGA believes it is imperative that the U.S. Department of Agriculture use its full authority and the maximum resources available to help mitigate the losses being suffered by farmers and ranchers," the Hume said in the letter. "While we commend USDA's decisions to approve immediate assistance through the Emergency Conservation Program, Emergency Loans, and Emergency Haying and Grazing Assistance, we are very concerned by reports that this assistance is not reaching producers in an expeditious and timely manner. We are also deeply concerned that the drought conditions may not be recognized for the purposes of reporting prevented planted acreage."

In addition, the letter requests the task force evaluate legislative options, including proposals that have been offered to supplement the announced emergency assistance.

"We believe it is important for the department to receive input from affected producers as to the extent of the drought, its effects and practicable actions for the mitigation," Hume said.