NCC Will Continue to Seek Improvement in Agriculture Relief Package

MEMPHIS - The National Cotton Council will be working to improve an agriculture relief package that passed the House Agriculture Committee today.

That committee, by a 31-14 vote, passed a farmer-relief bill totaling $5.5 billion, defeating a proposal by panel Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) who wanted to set $6.5 billion as the level of emergency assistance USDA would distribute for 2001 crops.

Key provisions of the measure that passed are $4.622 billion in supplemental market loss assistance payments and $84.7 million to producers and first-handlers of cottonseed. The package also included a no-cost amendment that would increase the loan deficiency payment/marketing loan payment cap for 2001 crops to $150,000 - the same cap in place for the 1999 and 2000 crops.

"U.S. cotton is an industry in crisis," said NCC Chairman James Echols. "Obviously, we are pleased that cottonseed assistance was included (in today's package), but we will seek opportunities to improve the package as the full House and the Senate take up the bill."

The Memphis merchant noted that NCC had communicated strong support for a supplemental Agriculture Market Transition Act payment "at the 1999 rate" to be distributed as soon as possible as a way to address farmers' needs. NCC economists estimate the House bill will provide a payment to cotton farmers of 6.7 cents prior to Oct. 1.

Cottonseed assistance also would be paid before Oct. 1 under the House plan. First handlers of cottonseed would receive a payment equal to 84.7 percent of the payment made just a few weeks ago on the 2000 crop of cottonseed.