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Summary:
Several regions of the nation have been affected by persistent drought this year which has had an adverse impact on crop and livestock production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several permanently authorized programs to help farmers recover financially from a natural disaster, including federal crop insurance, the noninsured assistance program and emergency disaster loans. Congress has considered additional assistance for 2001 and 2002 crop and livestock losses, but to date has taken no final action. On September 10, 2002, the Senate adopted an amendment (S.Amdt. 4481) to the FY2003 Interior appropriations bill (H.R. 5093) that would provide an estimated $6 billion in farm disaster assistance. Several other measures have been introduced. The Administration has stated that it will not support additional farm assistance unless it is offset with spending reductions in other programs. Meanwhile, USDA announced a new $752 million Livestock Compensation Program that will make direct payments to certain livestock producers for 2001 and 2002 forage losses, using existing funds from other sources.
