February 24, 2003

USDA is establishing a disaster assistance working group to ensure implementation of program benefits contained in the $3.1 billion disaster assistance package passed by the Congress. The working group will examine ways to expedite the process and cut red tape if possible to get program benefits in the hands of farmers and ranchers.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said it is still too early for USDA to determine when sign-up for the various disaster assistance programs will be available, but the working group will begin examining program requirements and appropriate timetables.

The disaster assistance programs contained in the measure will require producers to sign up to receive program benefits through local Farm Service Agency offices. This will take USDA additional time to establish regulatory guidelines and write computer software programs so county offices are able to perform sign-up when those timeframes are announced, Veneman said.

Members of the working group, much like USDA's farm law working group, will consist of the Secretary's sub-cabinet officials, USDA's chief economist, budget director and other career employees.

As part of the disaster aid implementation process, USDA will launch a new website this week for producers to utilize that will contain information about the disaster assistance programs, questions and answers, as well as other pertinent data. The website also will contain a comments and suggestions section to encourage producers and interested parties to provide input to USDA on how best to move the implementation process forward.

The announcement came hours after Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services J.B. Penn caused controversy by suggesting it would be some months before any producers could sign up to receive disaster benefits.