[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PERMANENT CROP LOSS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY A. CONDIT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 1997

  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest impacts to the 
California agricultural community was the loss to permanent crops as 
the result of damage from this winter's flooding. Approximately, 5,600 
acres of orchards and vineyards in Stanislaus, Sacramento, Sutter, and 
Yuba Counties of California were completely destroyed or severely 
damaged. In these areas, in addition to suffering losses in this crop 
year, farmers will be faced with the high cost of replanting orchards 
and vineyards, and will have to wait years before a crop can be 
harvested.
  In order to address this problem, I am introducing legislation today 
titled, ``The Permanent Crop Loss Emergency Assistance Act of 1997,'' 
which would authorize USDA's Farm Service's Agency to provide 
assistance to affected farmers. This program will provide assistance to 
farmers whose orchards and vineyards have suffered mortality as a 
result of the 1997 floods, including removing and disposing trees, 
preparing the land for replanting, the cost of planting stock, and 
actual planting of the orchard or vineyard. The program is similar to 
the Tree Replacement Program contained in the 1990 farm bill. This bill 
contains an appropriation of $9 million, based upon estimates by the 
California department of food and agriculture.
  The purpose of introducing this legislation is to provide support for 
the inclusion of this program in the emergency supplemental 
appropriations bill which will provide the requisite authority and 
funding for this program.

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