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was heard, legislation was passed in the supplemental and every- 

 one concerned knew that the intent of the legislation was to make 

 our producers whole again and this has not happened. 



Yet through some legislative craftsmanship, the Secretary has 

 found it possible to compensate for crop quality losses faced by 

 corn, cotton, and potato producers at 100 percent ratio while our 

 producers are being compensated at a ratio and factor of 50.4 per- 

 cent. 



Further, it is our understanding and I would love to be corrected 

 if I am wrong, but I am told these funds were made available to 

 the corn, cotton, and potato producers, and they were taken from 

 people specifically intended as victims from Hurricane Iniki and 

 Typhoon Omar. That is unconscionable. 



On a positive note following the overall disaster, the response to 

 provide farmworker housing was truly admirable. Working with 

 State and local governments housing for the farmworker sector was 

 made available at a record speed of 90 days from beginning to end. 



Now, that we have provided shelter for farmworkers, it is time 

 to see our producers get back on their feet so they can continue to 

 provide vital employment opportunity to this sector of the commu- 

 nities. 



Ladies and gentlemen, our producers affected by Hurricane An- 

 drew have made short- and long-term business decisions based on 

 promises of forthcoming financial assistance from the USDA. The 

 time has long passed to get on about delivering on those promises. 



I want to thank you for your time, and let you know that the 

 Dade County Farm Bureau, I think I can speak for everybody at 

 this table, is more than willing and able to help this committee, the 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture or whoever it is going to take to 

 bring these problems and others you will probably hear more about 

 today to a resolution mutually beneficial to all of us. 



I would like to point out that joining the committee, although I 

 don't see him on the agenda, is Mr. Steve Garrison, a former presi- 

 dent of the Dade chapter of the Florida Nurserymen and Growers 

 Association. He is a nurseryman. He is a recipient of the Farmers 

 Home Administration loan, direct loan. If you would like to speak 

 with him regarding that, if it is the pleasure of the committee, I 

 am sure that Mr. Garrison would be happy to speak to you and en- 

 tertain any of your questions. 



Mrs. Thurman. When we get to the questions and answers, that 

 would be a good time to bring him up here. I think Mr. Lewis 

 would like to have the opportunity to introduce Mr. Badger. 



Mr. Lewis. I would like to introduce my good friend, Gene Badg- 

 er, the former ASCS director in the State of Florida. He did one 

 outstanding job and he can be applauded and receive kudos from 

 all sectors of agriculture in Florida. 



We are pleased you could be with us today, Gene, and we look 

 forward to your comments on this issue. 



