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manager can not supply a staff with the necessary tools to complete a 

 job under guidelines set at that manager's level. 



Finally, I would comment upon the level of interest that ASCS has 

 taken in the plight of the disaster victims. In my contacts with 

 Washington I have experienced everything from deep concern and 

 commitment, especially at the local and state level, to a casual and 

 somewhat cavalier attitude by certain parties at the Federal level. I 

 truly believe that many individuals did not fully grasp the magnitude 

 of the disaster and its effect on the producers and employees in the 

 agriculture industry of Homestead. 



On a positive note I would like to commend ASCS for stretching the 

 interpretation of some guidelines. Most notably was their willingness 

 to allow producers to receive advance payments on cleanup and debris 

 and irrigation. Another help was the faith in the local committee that 

 enabled us to request and receive extensions of cleanup and irrigation 

 deadlines. Certainly, ASCS showed great sensitivity in these matters. 



I would like to bring to your attention a great problem that is 

 presently unresolved. As of November 9, we in the state of Florida 

 have no state ASCS committee. The political process that was engaged 

 in the selection of committee members smacked of patronage and 

 'business as usual' practices. Dade County will finally be recognized 

 and represented as the powerful agricultural economy it is if the 

 committee is seated as now proposed. 



Moving on to other matters, I was dismayed and disheartened by 

 Secretary Espy's recent ruling to exclude dead trees from crop loss 

 payments for 1993, 1994, and 1995. It is clearly the intent of the 

 legislation PI 103-50 to mitigate the effect of Hurricane Andrew on the 



