Durbin Calls for Disaster Relief Assistance for Illinois Farmers

DURBIN CALLS FOR DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE FOR ILLINOIS FARMERS

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for the inclusion of disaster assistance funds in this year's emergency appropriations bill for Illinois farmers who incurred significant losses due to natural disasters.

In a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Ranking Member Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), Durbin wrote, "In the State of Illinois, the drought significantly lowered yields and the value of the year's harvest. According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the value of Illinois' corn crop decreased by more than $1.1 billion, or about 25%, from 2004 to 2005 even as corn acreage increased. At least 10 counties in Northeast and Western Illinois sustained greater than 20% losses in corn yields."

Durbin warned that as natural gas prices continue to rise, commodity prices are expected to stay relatively flat. "Farmers and ranchers are not expecting this crop year to reverse last year's fortunes…USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) expects net farm income to drop 23.2% this year, from $72.7 billion to $56.2 billion, due in large part to stagnant crop prices and rising energy costs."

Durbin said he was disappointed that "House conferees dropped the drought assistance for Midwest and other farmers in the supplemental package in December," despite the clear will of the Senate to provide this much needed emergency funding. Durbin urged the Chairman and the Ranking member "…[t]o include relief for agricultural losses incurred due to natural disasters last year as you put together this supplemental spending package."

Durbin is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee.

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=253075&&