Budget has $576 million for disasters

BANGOR — The recently passed Omnibus Budget contains $576 million in additional disaster relief for farmers and related agricultural producers, according to U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee.

These resources, combined with $8.7 billion already allocated in the FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, bring the total disaster assistance available to farmers to more than $9.2 billion.

“The additional assistance provided in this budget bill will make a meaningful difference for family farmers in Maine and across the country when they are hit by natural disasters,” said Baldacci in a prepared statement. “American consumers will also benefit from greater stability of agriculture prices resulting from this aid. These resources will help to maintain many family farms and ensure locally grown products for people in Maine and all areas of the country,” Baldacci said.

The Omnibus Budget provides resources to a number of USDA-administered programs and services. The bill includes:

Funds for loss assistance totaling $198.6 million: $186 million for crops; $10 million for livestock; and $2.8 million for specialty crops;

Funds for Farm Service Agency Agriculture Credit programs totaling $178.6 million to provide a loan authorization level of $2.5 million to meet the demand caused by recent natural disasters;

Funds for the Emergency Conservation Program totaling $20 million.

“This budget bill alone will not solve all of the problems caused by severe weather and depressed farm prices, but it will bring relief and serve to keep many family farms in business,” said Baldacci. “That is good for Maine’s economy and for the nation’s consumers.”