Transfer of Funds for Emergency Farm Loans
                                           Release No. 0335.99 
Statement
                               by
                                
             Secretary of Agriculture  Dan Glickman
          on Transfer of Funds for Emergency Farm Loans
                                
                        August 13, 1999
                                
                                
"Demand for USDA's Emergency Farm Loans, the low-interest loans used to assist
farmers who have been hit by the drought and other disasters, is up
dramatically this year.  We have already made nearly $287 million in Emergency
Loans so far this year, an increase of 222 percent over last year.  
                                
"In order to help meet the unprecedented demand for these loans, I am
transferring funds to the Emergency Loan Program.  This money will permit USDA
to fund an additional $50 million in Emergency Loans.  I also intend to
continue working with the Congress on appropriate additional funding to ensure
that we are doing all we can to help America's farmers during these difficult
                            times."
                                
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