Twelve Farm Groups Urge Disaster Aid Support

July 12, 2002

Twelve farm groups have sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman urging the Bush administration's support of and active engagement in securing emergency disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers.

The organizations commended Veneman for USDA's timely announcements and actions to address natural disasters devastating crop and livestock production in 2001 and 2002. However, the farm organizations pointed out in the letter that there is still a desperate need for emergency programs to "reduce tragic weather- and disease-caused economic impacts experienced by farmers, ranchers and their communities throughout much of rural America."

National Farmers Union President Dave Frederickson said the 2002 farm bill was a leap forward for rural America in providing a safety net for producers, but that the new farm law fails to provide emergency disaster assistance.

"The new farm bill and its more stable level of funding is incapable of predicting and adequately dealing with natural disasters in advance," Frederickson said. "Emergency disaster assistance is needed desperately. Disasters affect not only farmers, but also entire rural communities and businesses that depend upon the agriculture economy."