18 



QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD FROM CONG. COMBEST 



NOVEMBER 16 HEARING ON DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR 



SPECIALTY CROPS 



QUESTION: Would you please comment on the assertion that the Texas and 

 New Mexico assigned yields for vegetable crops produced in the High 

 Plains area of the two states are widely disparate; and if so, explain 

 how the disparity has arisen. Did Texas use "blended yields" in 

 establishing assigned yields for specialty crops? 



ANSWER: The Texas State ASC Committee is required to establish yields 

 for crops based on data obtained from all parts of the State. Because 

 Texas is such a large State with a wide range of diversity in soil 

 types, rainfall, and potential buyers of vegetable crops, yields from 

 adjoining States, such as New Mexico, may not be comparable to the yield 

 established for the State. The yield that the Texas State ASC Committee 

 established for the State is based on the National Agricultural 

 Statistics Service data, other government agencies, and sometimes other 

 sources. This yield is a blend of data gathered from within Texas. 



QUESTION: Is there any provision in the disaster program handbooks or 

 other USDA rules to coordinate the establishment and adjustment by 

 states of assigned yields for vegetables and specialty crops, and to 

 ensure that the assigned yields are relatively consistent from state to 

 state except to the extent the growing conditions are substantially 

 different? 



ANSWER: Yes. State ASC Committees were directed to compare their 

 established rates and yields with those of surrounding States and any 

 other State that they believed may have the same crop and growing 

 conditions. 



QUESTION: What efforts is the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation making 

 to develop crop insurance plans for vegetables and specialty crops in 

 the High Plains area of Texas and New Mexico? 



ANSWER: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) is currently 

 reviewing expansion of crop insurance programs to the High Plains area 

 of Texas and New Mexico for vegetables and specialty crops. 

 Consideration for expansion is based on prioritization by total dollar 

 value of the crop at the national level. 



The crops currently being evaluated are hay, nursery crops, head 

 and leaf lettuce, strawberries, carrots, avocados broccoli, mushrooms, 

 cantaloupe, celery, pecans, cauliflower, forage and lawn seed, 

 asparagus, pistachios, sweet potatoes., sweet cherries, watermelon, 

 pineapple, blueberries and peppermint. 



Requests from the High Plains for pumpkins and spinach are also 

 noted. Pumpkins and spinach are ranked 114th and 84th respectively, 

 based on total dollar value of national production. Neither crop has a 

 program at this time. Upon completion of the current crop evaluations, 

 additional crops will be considered for expansion. 



