SAYS USDA WORKING TO DELIVER DISASTER RELIEF
                                            Release No. 0193.97
                                                               
                                    Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623
                                             tamontree@usda.gov
                                   Wayne Baggett (202) 720-2032
                                              wbaggett@usda.gov

GLICKMAN SAYS USDA WORKING TO DELIVER DISASTER RELIEF

     McALLEN, TEXAS, June 13, 1997--U. S. Agriculture Secretary Dan
Glickman said today that funds contained in the disaster relief measure
signed last night soon will be making its way to affected states, including
North and South Dakota and Minnesota.

     "I am certainly pleased that we are now able to send aid to those who
have suffered tragic losses as a result of natural disasters,"  said
Glickman.  "This Administration makes it a top priority to lend a helping
hand to producers, ranchers, and other rural Americans who have lost their
incomes, and sometimes their homes, to disasters like floods, droughts and
blizzards."
     
     The disaster relief measure  authorizes $50 million to fund a new
Livestock Indemnity Program aimed at helping farmers and ranchers cover the
loss of animals during last winter's blizzard.  The program will make
available to producers direct payments to help cover a set percentage of the
pre-determined market value for the animals lost.  
     
     "I want to express my appreciation to Congress, and especially to
Senator Daschle, whose leadership made this aid to livestock producers
possible," Glickman said.  "This program will  help producers who have lost
more than a million head of livestock and poultry valued at hundreds of
millions of dollars due to disastrous weather."
     
     The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now in the process of
finalizing details on how to operate this and the other programs and will
take steps to implement this program by the end of the month.
     
     The legislation also provides $164 million for three USDA loan
programs;  Direct Operating loans, Guaranteed Operating loans, and Emergency
Disaster loans.  In general, these loan programs make low interest loans to
eligible family farmers to help them recover from the loss of production or
physical losses.  By law, portions of the funds must be set aside for
exclusive use by beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers.  Flood
affected states will be given an extra allocation of funds.

     The law includes $70 million for the Emergency Conservation Program
(ECP), that will provide funds to help farmers restore disaster devastated
cropland to productive condition.

     The supplemental also provides $166 million for emergency
  watershed protection work.   USDA's Emergency Watershed Protection
  program (EWP) is used to relieve threats to life and property from
  floods and erosion caused by natural disasters.  Funds will be used to
  pay for crews of federal, state, and local workers to do such work as
  clear debris-clogged waterways, restore vegetation, and stabilize river
  banks.
  
     Under the supplemental, the Secretary may use up to $15 million of
  the EWP funds to provide floodplain easements.  This would be voluntary,
  with USDA accepting bids from willing sellers for easements on
  agricultural land inundated by floods.  The land would go into
  alternative uses, such as pasture.
     
     The legislation contained $9 million for the Tree Assistance
  Program.  This money will help owners of small orchards and vineyards
  replace and rehabilitate their operations damaged by natural disasters.
     
     The law provides $4 million for the Rural Utilities Assistance
  Program, a program that helps rural communities that have water or waste
  water systems damaged by disasters.
  
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