1、Congressional Research Service ? The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20269Updated December 11, 2000Emergency Funding for Agriculture: A Brief History of Congressional Action,FY1989 -FY2001Ralph M. ChiteSpecialist in Agricultural PolicyResources, Sci
2、ence, and Industry DivisionSummaryFrom FY1989 through FY2001 (to date), nineteen appropriations or farm disasteracts have provided $38 billion in emergency funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) programs. Nearly $27 billion, or about 70 percent of the total amount, has beenprovided for FY1
3、999-FY2001 alone. Since FY1989, the vast majority of the funds hasbeen paid directly to farmers, primarily in the form of “market loss payments” (just under$17 billion, all since FY1999) to compensate for low farm commodity prices, anddisaster payments ($15.6 billion) paid to any producer who experi
4、enced a major crop losscaused by a natural disaster. The remaining $5.4 billion has funded a wide array of otherUSDA programs, including other forms of farm disaster assistance, farm loans, overseasfood aid, food and nutrition programs, and rural development assistance. This report willbe updated to