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Obama, Durbin Ask Agriculture Secretary Johanns for Swift Approval of Request for Drought Relief

Monday, July 25, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Obama Contact: Robert Gibbs or Tommy Vietor, (202) 228-5511
Obama Illinois Contact: Julian Green, (312) 886-3506
Durbin Contact: Angela Benander, (202) 224-7115
Date: July 25, 2005

Obama, Durbin Ask Agriculture Secretary Johanns for Swift Approval of Request for Drought Relief

WASHINGTON - In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked for swift approval of Illinois' request for drought relief for Illinois farmers.

"Agriculture is important to Illinois, which is the second largest producer of corn and the leading producer of soybeans," Obama and Durbin wrote. "Although we will not fully know the extent of the damage incurred by this year's drought until harvest time, current data suggest that producers will face extreme hardship. Many predict that conditions will worsen as the season progresses, especially in North Eastern and North Central Illinois. These conditions are especially alarming because farmers are at a critical point in the growing season."

U.S. Department of Agriculture reports show that 55 percent of the corn crop and 36 percent of the soybean crop are rated very poor or poor. Of 102 counties, 98 have reported crop damage because of lack of rainfall.

Earlier today, Illinois Governor Gov. Blagojevich asked Secretary Johanns to declare each county in Illinois a natural disaster area. If approved, the declaration will qualify farmers for USDA assistance programs, including low-interest emergency loans.

"It is important that the federal programs triggered by a Secretarial Disaster Designation be made available to the state's producers as quickly as possible so that they have a fuller range of options with which to plan their harvesting season. These programs would make operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible for various types of assistance including emergency disaster loans, crop disaster payments, livestock assistance, and other aid."

Full text of the Senator's letter to Secretary Johanns below:

July 25, 2005 Dear Secretary Johanns: We write in support of Illinois Governor Blagojevich's request of a Secretarial Disaster Designation for the State of Illinois. We recognize that the Secretarial Disaster Designation Process normally lasts from two to three weeks and we request that you place a high priority on reviewing this request. The documentation that you have received from the State of Illinois provides evidence of the severity and extent of Illinois' drought, as well as its effects on this year's harvest. We would like to draw your attention to several facts that demonstrate the challenges that Illinois' farm operators are currently encountering. The period from March to June of this year was the third driest in Illinois since 1895. Precipitation has been almost 50 percent below average statewide rainfall. Combined with unusually high temperatures during the month of June, the lack of precipitation has caused serious harm to this year's harvest. The National Agriculture Statistics Service recently rated 55 percent of the state's corn as very poor or poor and 36 percent of the state's soybeans as very poor to poor. Agriculture is important to Illinois, which is the second largest producer of corn and the leading producer of soybeans. Although we will not fully know the extent of the damage incurred by this year's drought until harvest time, current data suggest that producers will face extreme hardship. Many predict that conditions will worsen as the season progresses, especially in North Eastern and North Central Illinois. These conditions are especially alarming because farmers are at a critical point in the growing season. It is important that the federal programs triggered by a Secretarial Disaster Designation be made available to the state's producers as quickly as possible so that they have a fuller range of options with which to plan their harvesting season. These programs would make operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible for various types of assistance including emergency disaster loans, crop disaster payments, livestock assistance, and other aid. For these reasons, we ask that you favorably consider the State of Illinois' request for Secretarial Disaster Designation. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator Barack Obama