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Farm Bureau Says Farmers Need Assistance
Published Friday, November 20, 2009 at 05:08 AM
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, farmers and ranchers in many areas of the nation have been hit hard by late planting and a protracted, wet harvest season and they would benefit greatly from the Agriculture Department maximizing farm bill emergency assistance programs. AFBF President Bob Stallman wrote Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to tell him - farmers are experiencing both quality and quantity losses and many still do not have crops out of the fields. In light of the situation, Stallman urged Vilsack to maximize the use of farm bill programs such as Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments and Emergency Loans to aid farmers and ranchers. Further, Stallman requested that USDA - act as it has in the past and provide farmers and ranchers with estimated fast-tracked partial disaster payments for the 2009 crop year as quickly as possible.

AFBF also urged USDA to consider using its authority under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to maximize Emergency Loans program funds by offering as many farmers as possible guaranteed rather than direct loans. Stallman wrote, - guaranteeing private loans versus providing them directly will help USDA stretch limited funding to assist the largest number of producers possible in a fiscally responsible way.

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