Farmers ask U.S. Senate panel for disaster relief program in next farm bill

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Agriculture groups told a U.S. Senate panel in Texas this month that they want the next farm bill to include disaster relief for farmers and ranchers reeling from billions of dollars lost to the drought.

They shared their views with U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., the chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee that was holding a hearing in West Texas. Chambliss, the lone committee member at the hearing, agreed that help is needed.

The nation’s No. 2 agriculture state is suffering from the worst drought losses ever — an estimated $2.6 billion in crop losses and $1.5 billion to the livestock industry.

The government expects to spend $20 billion subsidizing farmers this year under the current bill. Lawmakers are planning federal policy for the next farm bill, after a five-year measure expires in 2007.

Chambliss said that the current bill has paid farmers and ranchers about $12 billion less than what was projected since 2002. He said it’s doubtful additional funding would be the answer for disasters.

“A question Congress needs to address should be if the authorizing committee should restructure existing farm programs to fund a permanent disaster program,” he said.

Lawmakers, unlike in 2002, will have to work within a budget deficit as they begin crafting a new farm bill, Chambliss said. “A more likely scenario is one where we will have to aggressively defend what we already have,” he said.

Rickey Bearden, a cotton producer and the board chairman of the Plains Cotton Growers that serves 41 counties in the world’s largest cotton patch, told Chambliss there’s nothing broken in the current bill.

“It’s very, very important that the safety net stay in place,” he said.

After the hearing, Texas U.S. Reps. Randy Neugebauer and Mike Conaway, who joined Chambliss, said procedures for handling agriculture disasters need to be reviewed.

“The ad hoc system puts all producers at a real disadvantage,” said Conaway who along with Neugebauer represent West Texas. Both are members of the House Agriculture Committee.

Last month, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns provided ad hoc help for farmers and ranchers, promising drought aid that includes $50 million to hard-hit livestock producers. In all, the money would provide $79 million in relief funds and accelerate $700 million in planned payments to cotton, grain sorghum and peanut farmers.

Farm-state senators have recently increased their request for drought relief dollars by half, saying the nation’s farmers now need an estimated $6 billion or more in assistance. A separate disaster package worth $4 billion is pending as part of an agriculture spending bill.