10 



no 1992 loss occurred. However, the trees were budding or bloom- 

 ing for 1993 production. 



Because the expected production for 1993 was destroyed, we will 

 consider this as an eligible 1993 loss, and will make crop-loss pay- 

 ments under the terms of Public Law 103-50 for 1993. 



The expected production for 1994 and 1995 is zero. Therefore, 

 there, will be no disaster payments for these years. 



In years prior to 1992, trees have been destroyed by freezes in 

 California, Florida, and Texas by Hurricane Hugo in South Caro- 

 lina, and other natural disasters. The December freeze in 1990 in 

 California destroyed 70 percent of the citrus trees that were 5 

 years old or younger. Nevertheless, the policy has remained un- 

 changed since 1988. 



The tree assistance program provides cost-share payments to 

 owners who incurred orchard tree, forest seedling, and nursery in- 

 ventory tree losses in 1992 due to hurricane, typhoon, freeze, 

 drought, earthquake, or related conditions. 



Payments are being provided for the amount of loss on each indi- 

 vidual mortal stand that exceeds 35 percent of the stand, adjusted 

 for normal mortality. Payments will provide 65 percent of the cost 

 to replant or rehabilitate that portion of the loss that exceeds 35 

 percent, plus normal mortality. 



Payments are only authorized for eligible owners who actually 

 replant or rehabilitate eligible trees or nursery inventory. To qual- 

 ify, orchard owners must own not more than 500 acres of orchard 

 trees, and forest tree seedling owners not more than 1,000 acres of 

 forest trees. No such limitation applies to nursery inventory losses. 



Finally, the owner of a given type of nursery tree or plant may 

 be eligible for benefits under both TAP and the crop-loss assistance 

 program. However, the producer may receive benefits on the given 

 nursery tree or plant only for one program, not both. 



Madam Chairman, this concludes my statement. I would be 

 happy to respond to any questions. I brought two other people 

 along with me to help respond to the comments. I would like them 

 to come up to the table. Ms. Diane Sharp, who is the Production 

 Adjustment Branch Chief and deals with the disaster programs, 

 and Mr. Robert Stephenson, Deputy Director of the Conservation 

 and Environmental Protection Division, ASCS. He deals with TAP 

 and the ECP programs. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Weber appears at the conclusion 

 of the hearing.] 



Mrs. Thurman. Since we started, we have had our chairman of 

 the full committee come in. Mr. Chairman, we welcome you and 

 ask if you have any opening statement or any questions that you 

 would like to ask. 



The Chairman. Thank you very much. I came briefly to express 

 my appreciation to the subcommittee for meeting on this very im- 

 portant issue and that we may get from the administration the sit- 

 uation from their perspective. 



We would like to get it together so we can get some help to the 

 people — I can't say it in a timely fashion anymore — we are just 

 talking about help. 



Thank you. 



Mrs. Thurman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



