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- Aid Misses Mark
- Senate’s disaster package disappoints veg industry
- The National Potato Council (NPC) was disappointed in the “disaster” package approved by the Senate in late January. The program approved by the Senate provides aid to program crop producers, ignoring others.
“The program crop assistance package approved by the Senate ignores the needs of potato growers and other specialty crop producers who suffered actual losses in 2001 and 2002,” said NPC Executive Vice President and CEO John Keeling. “Potato growers deserve more equitable treatment both in terms of the total dollars allocated and equal treatment with program crop farmers who suffered crop losses.
Keeling is not alone in his disgust with the program. The Senate’s disaster aid package favors individual counties designated by the senators, rather than serving those growers with individual losses, according to reports. Cherry growers, for example, who had one of the worst crops on the books were skipped completely.
Out of $3.1 billion, the Senate provided only $100 million directly for specialty crops. NPC urged modification to the bill during Senate and House conference committee markup of the amendment. The group also urged Congress to provide funds for losses sustained in 2001 and 2002.
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