09.10.02

Senate passes emergency relief money for farmers hit by weather disasters

Central farmers will be eligible for assistance

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed an amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill that would provide more than $5 billion in emergency funds for farmers who have been affected by natural disasters in the 2001 and 2002 crop years. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today announced that Okanogan farmers affected by the August 2002 windstorm and Yakima farmers affected by July 2001's hailstorm could benefit from this provision.

"This money will help farmers in Central Washington recoup their losses after much of their crops were decimated by hail and wind storms," Cantwell said.

The funds would be distributed to any farmer, including specialty crop farmers, who can demonstrate a decreased yield in the 2001 and 2002 crop years due to "damaging weather or related condition." Farmers would be able to collect 65 percent of the market price of any percentage of crop loss greater than 35 percent. Farmers would also be eligible for assistance if they suffered at least a twenty percent loss in quality due to weather related disasters.

The Interior Appropriations bill passed the House on July 17, 2002. When the Senate bill passes, which is expected in the next week, it will then be sent to a conference committee to work out the differences in the to bills.