GLICKMAN REVIEWS 1999 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SETS GOALS FOR 2000 Releases No 0008.00 Andy Solomon (202) 720-4623 andy.solomon@usda.gov GLICKMAN REVIEWS 1999 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SETS GOALS FOR 2000 WASHINGTON, January 10, 2000 Calling 1999 "another extremely difficult year for America's farmers," Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said today that President Clinton's fiscal 2001 budget will include specific, new proposals to strengthen the farm safety net and help farmers weather difficult times. On Friday, Vice President Gore announced a new $1.3 billion conservation initiative to help small farmers and ranchers, preserve farmland, and protect water quality. "Record low commodity prices and a seemingly endless string of natural disasters made 1999 one of the toughest years ever for America's farmers and ranchers," Glickman said at a press conference, where he outlined his key priorities for the year 2000. "We at USDA responded by delivering over $22 billion in direct payments. But I want to help our farmers over the long- term, not just year to year. In 2000, I will work with Congress to seek significant changes to the 1996 Farm Bill, strengthening the safety net and increasing conservation incentives." Glickman said his key priorities for 2000 include Supporting American farmers and ranchers Glickman said he will work with Congress to improve the 1996 Farm Bill, providing a stronger and broader safety net and enhanced conservation programs. Helping farmers and rural America prosper Glickman said he will make significant additional investments in research and rural economic development, aggressively seek further opening of global markets, implement mandatory price reporting to help ensure fair competition for small farmers and ranchers, and propose a national organic standard. Moving ahead together Glickman pledged continued progress on civil rights, ensuring that fairness and inclusion are a part of everything USDA does. Glickman also discussed USDA's accomplishments in 1999, including Providing opportunity and assistance for America's farmers USDA provided a record $22.7 billion in assistance to America's farmers and ranchers, including over $5 billion in AMTA payments, over $3 billion in market loss assistance payments (including $200 million for struggling dairy farmers), over $450 million in livestock assistance, and over $1.4 billion in Conservation Reserve payments. In 1999, USDA experienced unprecedented demand for farm loans and loan guarantees. USDA provided over 37,000 loans and loan guarantees totaling $3.9 billion in 1999, 11,000 loans and $1.7 billion more than in 1998. During one the worst droughts in U.S. history, Secretary Glickman declared 1,695 counties in 44 states to be agricultural disaster areas, making emergency low-interest loans available to tens of thousands of hard-hit farmers. Continuing to expand and improve crop insurance, Secretary Glickman announced an approximately 30 percent reduction in premiums, helping boost coverage to 196.3 million acres and over $30 billion worth of crops. USDA provided nearly 8 million metric tons of food assistance to needy people around the world, nearly five times last year's level. The Clinton-Gore Administration continued to aggressively work to open foreign markets to U.S. agricultural products. In fiscal 1999, U.S. agricultural exports totaled $49 billion, creating an estimated 745,000 full-time jobs. USDA export credit guarantees supported more than $3 billion in commercial sales of U.S. agricultural products. Ensuring food safety In 1999, about 3,000 small meat and poultry companies came under USDA's science-based, prevention-oriented food safety inspection system. The new system has dramatically reduced the incidence of Salmonella in raw meat and poultry. USDA worked with the Department of Health and Human Services to improve egg safety, announcing a uniform refrigeration standard and a comprehensive plan to cut illnesses attributed to Salmonella in eggs by 50 percent by 2005. USDA published regulations permitting the irradiation of meat, offering another tool to help prevent foodborne illness. Fighting hunger and promoting sound nutrition Secretary Glickman hosted a national Community Food Security Summit, winning commitments from businesses, non-profits, and local governments to help fight hunger. USDA provided $6.6 million in grants to improve nutrition among school children and fight hunger through community food projects. USDA unveiled a Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children and hosted a major conference on breakfast and learning. The Secretary launched a nationwide food stamp education campaign, enlisting the help and support of the nation's mayors. Protecting our lands, forests, and the environment Secretary Glickman released a report indicating there has been a dramatic and troubling acceleration in the development of agricultural and forest land. He hosted the first national summit on private land conservation, highlighting and encouraging innovative conservation efforts across the country. Vice President Gore announced a new $1.3 billion conservation initiative to promote conservation, preserve farm land, and protect water quality. Secretary Glickman enrolled 5 million acres of environmentally sensitive land in the Conservation Reserve Program, increasing total CRP acreage to 31.3 million acres. Under the President's leadership, USDA protected millions of acres of National Forests through a temporary moratorium on roadbuilding in roadless areas and initiated a public process to examine longer-term protection. USDA secured funding to purchase the treasured Baca Ranch in New Mexico and thousands of acres of critical wildlife habitat adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. Secretary Glickman promoted efforts to reduce urban heat by developing and expanding Millennium Groves and community gardens in every state. The Secretary announced that USDA will buy and use 20,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel. USDA is the first federal agency to commit to using this alternative fuel, which reduces air pollution and increases demand for agricultural crops. Investing in rural America USDA invested $1.2 billion in rural America to assist businesses in the reation or preservation of more than 84,000 jobs. USDA invested $5.1 billion in rural housing, providing over 71,000 new or rehabilitated units for low and moderate income families, including over 600 units for domestic farm laborers. $275 million was invested in rural community projects, including child and adult care facilities, hospitals and health clinics, schools, and public safety facilities. USDA directed an additional $3.2 billion to electric, telecommunications, water supply, and waste disposal infrastructure projects in rural communities. Three million rural residents will enjoy the benefits of improved water or wastewater service, including 14,000 that received running water in their homes for the first time. Treating customers and employees with fairness and respect Under Secretary Glickman's leadership, USDA continued to make significant progress in the area of civil rights. Agreement was reached on a landmark consent decree with African American farmers. Mandatory civil rights training for all employees continued. Using science to help American agriculture and society Following a major biotechnology speech by Secretary Glickman, USDA asked the National Academy of Sciences to review our biotechnology regulatory process. The Secretary also announced plans to establish regional pest management centers across the country to help assess the long-term impacts of agricultural biotechnology. USDA research discovered that blueberries can reverse some loss of balance, coordination, and short-term memory associated with aging. USDA researchers developed a new, more effective way to produce taxol, a powerful anti-cancer drug. A new variety of wheat developed by USDA researchers could help slow the spread of wheat scab, a costly fungal disease. Safeguarding taxpayer funds Audits and investigations by USDA's Inspector General yielded $123 million in recoveries, collections, restitutions, fines, claims established, and costs avoided. Investigations produced 502 indictments and 559 convictions, most for felony violations. USDA successfully prepared its information systems and the nation's food supply for the Year 2000 conversion. #