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6. Make available Federal Crop Insurance to. limit excessive 

 claims and funding shortfalls for future disasters. 



7. Reduce paperwork requirements to process FmHA loans. 



8. Reduce collateralizing requirements on FmHA loans to avoid 

 tying all a producer's assets to a fraction of their value to secure a 

 loan. 



9. Review TAP payments to producers of long term tree crops 

 destroyed by a disaster. There must be some measures to stimulate 

 replanting of orchard crops. 



10. Allow local and state offices more discretion on payment 

 procedures and guidelines. 



11. Streamline internal movement of funds from programs within 

 USDA to expedite appropriations where shortfalls and surpluses occur. 



Finally, substainability of agriculture has been a subject of much 

 discussion lately. One component of agricultural stability is 

 dependence on a stable climate and environment. In times of 

 catastrophic disasters this stability is undermined. Here is where the 

 federal government, specifically USDA can play a role in the 

 preservation of an economically sound and multi-generational industry 

 which historically has been agriculture's role in the economy of our 

 country. 



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