Helping America's Farmers and Ranchers
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0380.98

            Radio Address of Secretary Dan Glickman
             Helping America's Farmers and Ranchers
                       September 21, 1998

     In a recent meeting with farmers, President Clinton called the farm
crisis 'a horrible affront to everything we've worked so hard to achieve to
lift the economy for all Americans.' 

     I am pleased that Congressional leaders now recognize the need to address
the hardship out in farm country. President Clinton and I have urged the
Senate to promptly pass the Daschle-Harkin proposal to provide $1.5 billion in
disaster aid to farmers, and lift the cap on marketing loans -- giving farmers
a $4-billion cushion against the extreme drop in prices. 

     The majority in Congress has a different approach. But at the end of the
day, I think Congress and the President will work together to get emergency
relief to farmers before Congress adjourns. 

     President Clinton and I also would like to see stronger Congressional
support for this Administration's International Monetary Fund proposal. It's
hard to increase U.S. exports, when other countries can't afford to buy them.
A strong U.S. economy depends on a strong world economy. And, a strong world
economy depends on strong, timely support from the IMF. 

     In the long run, USDA is tailoring crop insurance to today's needs. We've
increased the coverage farmers can get in places like the Northern Plains that
faced year after year of disasters. We also developed a new pilot program that
chucks crop-by-crop insurance, and covers the whole farm -- no matter if you
grow corn or cranberries, soybeans or celery. This program simply guarantees a
percentage of gross farm revenue. If this experiment succeeds, we will be
closer to the day when we can cover all crops.

     USDA's made other notable changes: We now allow loan deficiency payments
on high-moisture corn, silage and corn with aflatoxin. I've also proposed a
dramatic reduction in red tape in our guaranteed lending program, so farmers
don't have to wade through so much paperwork. 

     We have a busy agenda underway in Washington today. But if we put
ideology aside and stitch a sturdy farm safety net, I believe our work can
lead to a strong, secure new day on the farm.

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