NEWS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of Communications News Room 460-A
Washington, DC 20250-1300
Internet: News @usda.gov Phone: 202-720-9035
World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.usda.gov
Release No. 0047.01
Contact: Jillene Johnson (202) 720-9733
jillene_johnson@wdc.fsa.usda.gov
USDA ANNOUNCES START OF CROP DISASTER PAYMENTS
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2001 Agriculture Secretary Ann
M. Veneman announced that payments of more than $1.1 billion
will begin today under USDA's Crop Disaster Program. So
far, about 450,000 applications from 160,000 farmers have
been approved, and more are expected. Final payments and
statewide totals will be announced when all payments are
made.
"American farmers are still feeling the pressure of
low prices, and, in many cases, the effects of natural
disasters," said Veneman. "These payments will assist
farmers in this difficult time."
Signup for the CDP began on January 18, 2001. Farmers
should contact their local USDA Service Center or Farm
Service Agency county office to file an application. To be
eligible, farmers must have suffered at least 35 percent
loss to one or more of their 2000-year crops due to natural
disasters. Eligible farmers will receive payment soon after
approval of their application. The deadline to file an
application will be announced later.
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2001, provided funds for the CDP. Last year, USDA issued
more than $1.2 billion in crop disaster payments.
For information on this and other USDA programs,
contact your local USDA Service Center or the FSA local
office, usually listed in telephone directories under "US
Government, Department of Agriculture" or on the Internet at
www.usda.gov
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