PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY CONTRACT PAYMENTS FOR 1997
                                            Release No. 0303.97
                                                               
                                   Jim Petterson (202) 720-5237
                                            jpetterson@usda.gov
                                   Marlyn Aycock (202) 720-5237
                                       maycock@wdc.fsa.usda.gov
                                                               
PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY CONTRACT PAYMENTS FOR 1997 CROPS TO TOTAL $6.4   
BILLION

     WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said today
that producers who entered into Production Flexibility Contracts are eligible
to share in total fiscal year 1997 payments of $6.4 billion.

     Producers received advance payments of about $3.3 billion.  A balance of
$3.1 billion remains to be paid and local offices of USDA's Farm Service
Agency will begin issuing checks the week of September 8th.  Final payments
are required by statute to be made no later than September 30.
     
     The following tables show payment rates and estimated total payments by
commodity and total payments by State, before application of statutory maximum
payment limitation requirements.

Commodity      Units     -----Payment Rates----- Total Payment
                         Advance   Final      Total       Million $

Wheat               cents/bu  30.5      32.6           63.1      $1,426
Corn           cents/bu  29.5      19.1    48.6        $3,434         
Grain Sorghum  cents/bu  30.5      23.9    54.4          $347
Barley         cents/bu  12.5      15.2    27.7          $117
Oats           cents/bu   1.5       1.6     3.1            $8
Upland Cotton  cents/lb   3.7       3.9     7.6          $639
Rice           $/cwt          1.37      1.34           2.71        $461



       1997 PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY CONTRACTS BY STATE ($1,000)
  
Alabama         $38,759      Nebraska          $494,662
Alaska             $596      Nevada              $1,208
Arizona         $44,690      New Hampshire          $1,109
Arkansas       $260,784      New Jersey          $3,557
California     $234,221      New Mexico         $22,709
Colorado       $105,381      New York           $39,645
Connecticut      $1,363      North Carolina        $72,297
Delaware         $6,127      North Dakota      $246,954
Florida         $10,119      Ohio              $195,821
Georgia         $79,695      Oklahoma          $146,637
Idaho               $69,709  Oregon             $36,162
Illinois       $599,123      Pennsylvania       $31,268
Indiana        $295,314      Rhode Island          $325
Iowa           $686,022      South Carolina        $32,192
Kansas         $423,596      South Dakota      $185,408
Kentucky        $69,976      Tennessee          $58,737
Louisiana      $140,341      Texas             $514,913
Maine                $1,116  Utah                $7,183
Maryland        $20,324      Vermont             $2,006
Massachusetts    $1,244      Virginia           $26,227
Michigan       $123,338      Washington         $92,196
Minnesota      $386,932      West Virginia          $2,849
Mississippi    $131,294      Wisconsin         $162,392
Missouri       $195,170      Wyoming             $8,678
Montana        $123,977      TOTAL US         $6,432,520

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