St. Louis, Missouri
August 14, 2002

It has been a tough year for farmers across the nation. Growers in Kansas and South Dakota, for example, are seeing historically dry conditions, whereas Minnesota and North Dakota producers are not only facing a drought, in some parts of those states there is too much moisture. In an effort to assist the nation's farmers, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Tim Hume has appointed a Disaster Task Force.

NCGA's decision to appoint the task force was the result of collaborative efforts between NCGA and grower leaders from state corn grower and checkoff organizations. The mission of the task force is:

• Make sure that clear, timely and accurate information on the impact of the disaster situation gets to policy-makers and program implementers
• Share information between growers and states on assistance programs and options to assist crop and livestock producers in responding to the disaster.
• Set a course of further action for NCGA with respect to disaster response.

Ron Litterer, vice chair of the NCGA Public Policy Action Team, was appointed to chair the task force. Other task force members are: Alan Peter, Tribune, Kan.; Bernie Heier, Walton, Neb.; Darren Ihnen, Hurley, S.D.; Steve Pigg, Bushnell, Ill.; Michael Aylesworth, Hebron, Ind.; Dee Vaughan, Dumas, Texas; Brent Rockhold, Arbela, Mo.; and Sam Willett, NCGA director of public policy.

Litterer, a Greene, Iowa, grower, said the task force will analyze the effects the severe weather conditions will have on growers. "The farm bill provides growers with monetary protection and crop insurance provides protection on the production side," he said, "but we need to see if the level of protection and coverage is adequate. We need to also recognize, this isn't just a corn grower issue. This also affects our number-one customer, the livestock industry."

Litterer said the disaster is affecting farmers and livestock producers throughout the country. "It's important to recognize, as USDA has, this is an issue causing problems all over the United States," he said.

The long-term effects of the severe weather conditions are apparent in the USDA crop production report released Aug. 12, projecting an 8.89 billion bushel corn crop. This represents a seven-percent drop from last year and 10 percent from 2000. If the USDA's projections are realized, this would be the lowest production year since 1995.

Based on conditions as of Aug. 1, national yields are expected to average 125.2 bushels per acre, down 13.0 bushels from last year. Yields are mostly lower than 2001 across much of the United States as wet weather during planting caused delays in the eastern Corn Belt. Also, according to USDA, persistent hot, dry weather has stunted growth and limited yield potential over many acres of the United States. Farmers expect to harvest 71 million acres of corn for grain, down 1.08 million acres from June, but up 3 percent from 2001. The USDA projects 8.9 billion bushels of corn produced in 2002, down from 9.5 billion bushels in 2001.

"I feel it's important for NCGA to take action in an effort to help our public policy-makers understand the devastating effects these weather conditions are having on the nation's growers," said Hume, a corn producer from Walsh, Colo. "We want to be able to give those policy-makers options to deal with this and to also receive feedback from them on how we can help alleviate the effects this situation is having on us.

"We will need to use all tools and options available," continued Hume, "to assist those who are in such severe need."

In related news, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced Aug. 12 that $150 million in supplemental feed is being made available to farmers and ranchers operating cow-calf operations in areas most severely stricken by drought. 

"President Bush and this administration continue to be concerned about the impact of severe drought conditions to farmers in certain states," said Veneman. "This additional funding for supplemental feed, coupled with the many other programs we have expedited in recent months, will provide much needed relief to farmers in the most devastated areas."

Under the new program, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming are among the states initially eligible. At least 75 percent of the pasture and range crop in these states is rated as poor or very poor. USDA will provide assistance only for future purchases of feed for beef cow-calf operations, not for past expenses.

The program will use both USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) authority and Agricultural Marketing Service's Section 32 authorities and will run through Dec. 31 or until available funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.

For more information regarding this matter, please visit our website at www.ncga.com . 

The National Corn Growers Association mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance corn's profitability and usage. NCGA represents more than 32,000 members, 25 affiliated state corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.