[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY--MARCH 20, 1994

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize an important 
individual we often forget--the American farmer. Each time we walk into 
a grocery store, look through our cupboards or sit down with our family 
for dinner, we should remember the people who dedicate their lives to 
this often overlooked profession. As National Agriculture Day 
approaches, I want to take this time to remind the American public of 
the hardships our producers encountered last year, and to encourage 
America's farmers to face the coming season with hope.
  Last year, thousands of farmers found themselves at the mercy of 
Mother Nature. Midwesterners faced endless days of unprecedented 
rainfall, while those in the Southeast suffered through one of the 
worst droughts of modern time. In my own State of South Carolina, more 
than 37,000 farmers suffered crop and livestock losses totaling more 
than $264 million. The drought of 1993 destroyed 95 percent of our corn 
crop, 40 percent of soybeans and cotton, and a quarter of the normal 
tobacco yield. As for livestock, more than 1.8 million turkeys and 
chickens, 3,100 hogs, and 860 head of cattle were lost. Thanks to the 
dedication of Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, we were able to work 
together to provide relief funds for South Carolina farmers, and many 
of them are recovering well and looking forward to a new year.
  However, for many livestock producers in South Carolina, the effects 
of the drought are far from over. Last year, scorching temperatures 
destroyed almost the entire hay crop in our State, and farmers now are 
having to pay as much as four times the average market price for feed. 
To provide some relief, dairy farmer Tom Trantham and I have been 
working on Operation Haylift which will provide more than 4,000 bales 
of donated hay for needy farmers. I am hopeful that the free hay will 
be transported from Indiana to South Carolina in the next 2 weeks.
  As we reflect on the troubled times of 1993, South Carolina farmers 
have much to offer, and much to look forward to as the first day of 
spring approaches. South Carolina remains a versatile farming State and 
leads our country in the production of several crops. For example, we 
rank 2d in the Nation for peach production, 2d in flue-cured tobacco, 
3d in tomatoes, 8th in sweet potatoes, 10th in turkeys, and 15th in 
broilers. Certainly, such numbers are something for which all South 
Carolinians can be proud.
  These figures give us hope that Mother Nature will be kind to 
America's farmers during 1994, and will provide them with a healthy, 
bountiful season. Mr. President, I thank our farmers for their hard 
work and dedication, and remind all Americans that every day is a good 
day to recognize the contributions of the American farmer.

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