WITH THE $4.1 BILLION IN INCOME ASSISTANCE WOULD PUT MONEY IN
           THE POCKETS OF RANCHERS AND FARMERS. MOST IMPORTANT, THEY ARE
           POSITIVE ANSWERS FOR THE LONG-TERM AS OPPOSED TO THE DEMOCRAT
           PLAN WHICH I PERSONALLY THINK WOULD BE VERY, VERY
           COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EARLIER THIS YEAR,
           SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE DAN GLICKMAN MADE THE COMMENT THAT
           TRADE IS THE SAFETY NET FOR AMERICA'S FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

           YET, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE SECRETARY AND THE ADMINISTRATION
           REFUSED TO SUPPORT FAST-TRACK LEGISLATION WHEN IT WAS
           CONSIDERED IN THE HOUSE. I SAID THEY WERE A WOL DURING THE
           DEBATE -- AWOL DURING THE DEBATE. THEY EVEN ASKED AS I RECALL
           MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE IN THE OTHER BODY
           TO VOTE AGAINST THE LEGISLATION. NOT THIS TIME. NOT THE PROPER
           TIME, THAT'S THE QUOTE, TO PASS FAST-TRACK. MEANWHILE OUR
           FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS HAVE COLLAPSED AND WE

           KNOW THAT OUR LATIN AMERICAN CNTRIES ARE WAITING FOR FAST-TRACK
           TO PASS BEFORE ENTERING INTO AG TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH THE U.S.
           I WENT WITH SENATOR LOTT THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER DOWN
           TO LATIN AMERICA. EVERY COUNTRY WE VISITED WITH SAID WHEN ARE
           YOU GOING TO PASS FAST-TRACK, THE EUROPEAN UNION IS KNOCKING AT
           OUR DOOR AND WE NEED THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION. AND I DON'T
           KNOW. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE PRESIDENT IF NOT NOW IS NOT THE
           PROPER TIME TO OPEN UP NEW MARKS FOR OUR PRODUCERS WHEN WILL
           THE PROPER TIME BE?

           I AGREE WITH HILL ON I.M.F. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE DECISION TO
           HUNKER DOWN IN THE WEEDS IN REGARDS TO FAST-TRACK. AND I MUST
           SAY, THE FAILURE TO PASS FAST-TRACK HOLDS THE POTENTIALS TO
           BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS U.S. AGRICULTURE FOREIGN POLICY
           BLUN DERS SHINS SINCE THE SHATTERED GLASS POLICY OF THE LATE
           1970'S AND EARLY 1980'S. WHEN WE WITHDRAW IT MAY HAVE BEEN A
           MISTAKE AND WHEN IT WENT DOWN TO DEFEAT IT WAS A TERRIBLE
           MISTAKE AND CONSEQUENTLY I SHOULD ALSO ADD IN THAT I AM NOT

           VERY HAPPY WITH MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES 0 OVER IN THE HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES WHO DECIDED NOT TO VOTE FOR FAST-TRACK. THAT
           WAS A SLE VERY BAD MISTAKE AS WELL. THE PRESIDENT HAS REFUSED
           TO SUPPORT THESE TRADE AND TAX AND INCOME ASSISTANCE
           INITIATIVES I FEEL WILL HELP OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN BOTH
           THE SHORT- AND LONG-TERM. BUT HE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT A
           PROPOSAL THAT WILL PROVIDE VIRTUALLY NO ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS
           WHO HAVE SUFFERED LOSSES IN 1998. I WILL GET INTO THAT. WE CAN

           RAISE THE LOAN RATES AS HIGH AS WE WANT. AS A MATTER OF FACT,
           IN THE SIX OR SEVEN FARM BILLS I HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH,
           THERE IS ALWAYS THE DEBATE, DO YOU USE THE LOAN RATE AS A
           MARKET CLEARING DEVICE OR INCOME SUPPORT?
           AND SEVERAL FARM BILLS AGO WE AGREED THAT WHEN YOU RAISE THE
           LOAN RATE TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU REALLY INTERFERE WITH MARKETS,
           THAT'S NOT THE PROPER WAY TO DO IT HE. WE USED TO HAVE
           DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS TO ASSIST FARMERS DURING THE TOUGH TIMES
           WHEN THEIR MARKETS WOULD DECLINE DUE TO UNFAIR TRADING

           PRACTICES OR SOME OTHER OR SOME OTHER REASON. WE CHANGED THOSE
           TO TRANSITION PAYMENTS. WHAT WILL RAISING A LOAN RATE DO FOR A
           PDUCER IN OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, LOUISIANA, MARYLAND, WHO HAS LOST
           MOST OR ALL OF THEIR CROP TO SOME KIND OF WEATHER SITUATION IN
           WHAT ABOUT THE FARMER IN LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI?
           WHO LOST MOST OF HIS RICE CROP TO DROUGHT AND HAD A COTTON CROP
           HIT WITH 16 INCHES OF RAIN BY A TROPICAL STORM THEN HIT BY
           HURRICANE GORINGS IN LATE SEPTEMBER?

           THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION. THEM RECEIVE
           NO ASSISTANCE FROM HIGHER LOAN RATES AND THE HARKIN-DASCHLE
           PROPOSAL PROVIDES LESS THAN $500 MILLION FOR 1998 LOSSES BUT
           CONTAINS ALMOST $1 BILLION FOR MULTIPLE YEAR AND 1998 LOSSES IN
           THE MODERN PLAIN AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME. I
           AM NOT TRYING TO PICK ON THEM FOR THAT, BUT I THINK IT IS
           SKEWED JUST A BIT. I DON'T QUESTION THE PROBLEMS SUFFERED BY
           PRODUCERS IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS IN RECENT YEARS, NOR DO I

           QUESTION THAT PRICES ARE LOW. WE HAVE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN
           ABOUT THE PAINFUL CROP LOSSES EXPERIENCED IN THE NORTHERN
           PLAINS OVER THE PAST YEARS. BUT THANK GOODNESS, SOUTH DAKOTANS
           ARE EXPECTING A GOOD CROP THIS YEAR. THAT'S A WELCOME CHANGE.
           AFTER THE BLIZZARDS AND FLOODING D SCAB OR DISEASE, UNFAIR
           TRADING PRACTICES, THAT QUOTE COMES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 1998
           EDITION. NATIONAL FARMER UNION NEWS. THANK GOODNESS THEY AT
           LEAST HAVE A CROP. BUT LET ME GET BACK TO THE PLAN THAT IS

           WITHIN THE AG APPROPRIATION BILL AND WHY I THINK IT IS THE
           PROPER COURSE. THE PLAN TO BE INCLUDED WILL BE PROVIDE $4.1
           BILLION TO PRODUCERS. OF THIS AMENDMENT, $1.65 BILLION, 29% OF
           THE TRANSITION PAYMENTS, THE INFAMOUS TRANSITION PAYMENTS THAT
           ARE IGNORED AND FORGOTTEN OR SOMEHOHAVE DISAPPEARED IN THE
           DEBATE ON THE OTHER SIDE, WILL BE PROVIDED TO FARMERS AS
           PAYMENTS FOR LOST EXPORT MARKETS CAUSED BY ECONOMIC THEY POINT

           YEAH. THE GLOBAL CONTAGION. THE ASIAN FLU. NOT TO MENTION THE
           POLICIES THAT SHUT OUR PRODUCERS OUT OF WORLD MARKETS AND THE
           INADEQUATE AGRICULTURE TRADE INITIATIVES OF THIS
           ADMINISTRATION, AND COMPOUNDED BY SOME IN THIS CONGRESS. ANY
           FARMER WHO RECEIVED AMTA PAYMENTS, THE TRANSITION PAYMENTS THAT
           DONE EXIST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, IN 1998, WILL
           RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 29% OF THIS AMOUNT. THOSE RECEIVING
           PAYMENT WILL INCLUDE SOUTHERN, COTTON, WHEAT, CORN AND RICE
           FARMERS WHO HAD LITTLE OR NO CROP TO HARVEST. THE

           HARKIN-DASCHLE PLAN LEAVES THEM EMPTY-HANDED. THE PLAN IN THE
           AG APPROPRIATION BILL INCLUDES $1.5 BILLION FOR 12998 LOSSES ON
           $675 LOSSES FOR MULTIPLE YEAR LOSSES. THE DASCHLE HARKIN PLANS
           PROVIDES APPROXIMATELY $1 BILLION FOR THE NORTHERN PLAINS, $500
           MILLION FOR THE SOUTH. AGAIN I AM NOT TRYING TO CRITICIZE
           PROBLEMS IN THE NORTH, BUT THE PLAN DOESN'T DO MUCH FOR ANY
           GROWER SUFFERING LOSSES IN NEW MEXICO, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA,
           ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY,

           FLORIDA, SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND
           AND THE LIST GOES ON. SENATORS FROM THOSE STATES, WAKE UP. NOW
           HEREBY IS THE REAL ISSUE THAT IS NOW BEING DEBATED. THE
           NORTHERN PLAINS SENATORS ARE NOW THE PRESIDENT HAVE STATED
           REPEATEDLY THAT WE HAVE YANKED THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE
           PRODUCER. NO SAFETY NET. TOUGH LUCK, I THINK IT WAS DESCRIBED
           BY MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, SENATOR DORGAN. AS I SAID --

           AS THEY HAVE SAID, THERE IS NO BRIDGE. NOTHING -- BUT THEY FAIL
           TO MENTION THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY $17.5
           BILLION -- $17.5 BILLION IN TRANSITION PAYMENTS SINCE THE
           INCEPTION OF THE NEW FARM BILL IN 1996 THROUGH 1998. IT IS
           ESTIMATED THE OLD BILL, THE BILL THAT SOMEHOW IS SORT OF
           FORGOTTEN IN THIS DEBATE, THE OLD SUPPLY-DEMAND BILL, THE OLD
           COMMAND AND CONTROL BILL, WHERE THE USDA WOULD TELL THE FARMER
           WHAT SEED TO PUT IN THE GROUND AND MAYBE HE WOULD CAN HAVE FOR

           A SUBSIDY, THAT BILL, WOULD HAVE PROVIDED ONLY AROUND $10
           BILLION DURING THIS TIME. THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF $7.5 BILLION.
           WAIT A MINUTE. LET ME SEE IF I GET THIS RIGHT. THEY ARE GETTING
           MORE MONEY UNDER THE NEW BILL, LESS MONEY UNDER THE OLD BILL,
           BUT THE NEW BILL IS THE PROBLEM. HELLO. IT IS ESTIMATED, AS I
           SAID THE OLD BILL WOULD HAVE PROVIDED ONLY ABOUT $10 BILLION
           DURING THIS TIME. THEY FORGOT TO MENTION THE ESTIMATED $4
           BILLION THAT PRODUCERS WILL RECEIVE IN LOAN DEFICIENCY

           PAYMENTS, WHAT ABOUT THE $5.5 BILLION IN ADVANCE 1999 PAYMENT,
           AGAIN IF I WERE A FARMER I WOULD BE CAREFUL WITH THAT, IF YOU
           ADD THIS AND INCLUDE THE $4.1 BILLION INCLUDED IN THE
           AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS BILL PASS PUT ON THE FLOOR BY THE
           DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI, TOTAL FUND OG OVER THE
           THREE YEAR PERIOD IS $31 BILLION. $31 BILLION. THAT'S NOTHING?
           THAT'S TOUGH LUCK?
           THAT'S A BRIDGE THAT'S BEEN WASHED OUT?
           $31 BILLION?
           STILL THE SENATORS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE FROM THE

           NORTHERN AND GREAT PLAINS ARGUE THIS IS NOT ENOUGH. IT MAY WELL
           NOT BE OVER THE LONG TERM. I UNDERSTAND THAT. IF THINGS DON'T I
           AM PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG, IT MAY
           NOT BE. THEY SAY THEIR PRODUCERS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN. THEY EVEN
           CITED THIS ON THE FLOOR IN A CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE TABLE.
           NOW THIS IS GOING TO GET A LITTLE TRICKY HERE. THE TABLE THAT
           IS CALLED THE C.B.O. STUDY SHOWING A SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF
           THE TWO PLANS, WE HAVE ALL SEEN IT IN REGARDS TO THIS DEBATE,

           SENATOR KERREY I THINK MADE THE PRESENTATION OF NEBRASKA, AND
           THEN I THINK THE C.B.O. PLAN WAS SENT WITH LETTER ATTACHED TO
           NUMEROUS STATE GOVERNORS TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN. THERE IS
           ONE PROBLEM WITH THESE ACTIONS AND THIS C.B.O. STUDY. IT IS MY
           UNDERSTANDING, AND I THINK I AM RIGHT, THE NUMBERS WERE NOT RUN
           BY C.B.O. IT IS NOT A C.B.O. STUDY. IN FACT, C.B.O. WAS NOT
           EVEN INVOLVED IN RUNNING THESE NUMBERS, RATHER THEY WERE PUT
           TOGETHER BY STAFF MEMBERS OF THE APPROPRIATE SENATORS WHO HAD

           PROPOSED THIS PLAN. NOW I DON'T WANT TO PLAY THIS BUSINESS OF
           HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH ENOUGH. I HAVE SAID BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS
           VERY SERIOUS IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND FOR THAT MATTER ALL
           OVER THE COUNTRY WHERE WE HAVE HAD THESE UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEMS
           IN REGARDS TO FARM COUNTRY. BUT I THOUGHT PERHAPS WE SHOULD DO
           SOME TRUTH IN SPENDING AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE LEVEL OF PAYMENTS
           THE STATES OF NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA
           AND IOWA HAVE ACTUALLY RECEIVED UNDER THE 1996 FARM BILL. IT
           MAY NOT BE ENOUGH, BUT WITH ALL OF THIS TALK ABOUT NO BRIDGE,

           TOUGH LUCK, YOU ARE OUT OF -- YOU ARE JUST OUT OF LUCK, WE ARE
           NOT GOING TO SUPPORT YOU, NORTH DAKOTA, 1996, NORTH DAKOTA
           RECEIVED, THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN NORTH DAKOTA STEEFED
           $309.7 MILLION. 1995, 19198, 245.2 MORATORIUM. TOTAL, $800
           MILLION. THAT'S MORE THAN NOTHING. THE YEARLY STATE AVERAGE IN
           GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS IN 1991, 1995, THE OLD FARM BILL WHICH HAS

           BEEN DEFENDED SAYING THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE FOUNDATION FOR THE
           NEXT FARM BILL, THIS ONE IS NOT WORKING, WELL WHAT WOULD THAT
           HAVE PROVIDED?
           THAT AVERAGE 1991, 1995, $265.4 MILLION. SO AGAIN WE ARE
           PROVIDING MORE MONEY. NOW, DOES IT FIT THE CURRENT SITUATION
           WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE COME UP?
           NO. BUT THE ANSWERS DON'T INVOLVE THE LOAN RATE, THE ANSWERS
           INVOLVE THESE OTHER FOUR OR FIVE THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED OVER
           AND OVER AGAIN. TRADE POLICY. REGULATORY REFORM. TAX POLICY
           CHANGES. BAD WEATHER. UNFAIR TRADING PRACTICES. NONE OF THAT

           HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FARM BILL. THE 1996 THROUGH 1998
           AVERAGE WAS $266.6 MILLION. IN JULY THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE
           COMMITTEE ESTIMATED NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO
           RECEIVE $215.1 MILLION IN ADVANCED 1999 PAYMENTS. AGAIN I AM
           SURE I WOULDN'T TAKE THAT BUT SOME MAY HAVE TO. THE 29% BONUS
           PAYMENT FOR 1998 CROPS WILL SEE QUAUL APPROXIMATELY $71
           MILLION. ADDING THE 1998 PAYMENTS, THE 1998 BONUS PAYMENTS AND

           1999 PAYMENTS TOGETHER, NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS COULD RECEIVE UP
           TO $531.3 MILLION DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 1998, THIS YEAR.
           SOUTH DAKOTA. 1996, $161.8 MILLION. 1997, $183.1 MILLION. 1998,
           $161.3 MILLION. TOTAL. $506.2 MILLION. THAT IS NOT NOTHING. THE
           YEARLY STATE AVERAGE IN GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS IN 1991, 1995,

           UNDER THE OLD FARM BILL $149.7. THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF $80
           MILLION BUCKS AND THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS $FOUR YEARS. I AM ONLY
           COUNT BEING THREE YEARS IN REGARD TO THE CURRENT FARM PROGRAM N
           JULY THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE ESTIMATED SOUTH DAKOTA
           FARMERS WILL BE HE WILL JBAIL TO RECEIVE $160 MILLION IN
           ADVANCE 1999 PAYMENTS. THE 29% BONUS PAYMENT FOR 1998 CROPS
           WILL SEE QUAUL APPROXIMATELY 46.7 MILLION. YOU ADD THEM UP
           SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS COULD RECEIVE $368.9 MILLION DURING
           CALENDAR 1998, MORE THAN THE OLD BILL. I AM GOING TO SKIP

           MONTANA. NOTHING PERSONAL. I THINK WE OUGHT TO SHORTEN IT UP.
           MINNESOTA, SENATOR WELLSTONE HAS BEEN ON THE FLOOR INDICATING
           THAT TIMES ARE TOUGH IN MINNESOTA. THEY ARE. IT IS A CRISIS. HE
           IS ENTITLED TO SAY THAT. BUT THE CURRENT FARM BILL, FREEDOM TO
           FAIL, THAT'S HOW HE DESCRIBES IT, 1996, $261.5 BILLION, 1997,
           $373.8 MILLION. 19198, $322 MILLION. TOTAL. $968 MILLION ALMOST

           $1 BILLION. THAT'S NOT NOTHING. IS THAT HAS DOUBLE NEGATIVE?
           THE YEARLY STATE AVERAGE IN GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS IN 17991, 1995,
           UNDER THE FARM BILL, AND YOU HAVEN'T HEART ONE WORD ON THE
           OTHER SIDE ABOUT THE FAILURES. OLD FARM BILL SHALL AND PEOPLE
           STANDING IN LINE WAITING ON THE USDA TO ISSUE ALL THE PAPERWORK
           SO THEY COULD FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK TO PLANT LESS, NOT AT
           LEAST RESPONSIBLE TO MARKET SIGNALS THAT THEY MIGHT GET A
           SUBSIDY. NOT ONE WORD. THAT WAS $270.2 MORATORIUM. THAT'S ABOUT

           A $50 MILLION BUCKS MORE UNDER THE NEW PROGRAM. 1996 THROUGH
           1998 AVERAGE WAS $322 MILLION. IN JULY THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE
           COMMITTEE ESTIMATED MINNESOTA FARMERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO
           RECEIVE $336 MILLION IN ADVANCE PAYMENTS, 29% BONUS FOR 1998
           CROPS WILL YIELD $93 MILLION, ADD THEM UP, $753.08 MILLION
           DURING CALENDAR YEAR 1998. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. PERHAPS IT IS
           NOT ENOUGH FOR THE DIRE SITUATION THEY FACE IN ABSENTIA OF

           OTHER THINGS WE SHOULD BE DOING. THE QUESTION IS NOT HOW MUCH
           IS ENOUGH, BUT THE CLAIM AGAIN BY THE OTHER SIDE THAT WE ARE
{END: 1998/10/05 TIME: 16-30 , Mon.  105TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}