119 



STATEMENT 



OF 



BEN ROMING 



MULESHOE, TEXAS 



BEFORE 

 THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPECIALTY CROPS AND NATURAL RESOURCES 



NOVEMBER 16, 1993 



DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR SPECIALTY CROPS 



Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, I am Ben Roming of Muleshoe, 

 Bailey County, Texas. I deeply appreciate your giving me the opportunity to submit to you my 

 comments on the disaster payments program for specialty crops. 



I farm in the High Plains area of West Texas. The High Plains region actually extends 

 into eastern New Mexico. The land in the High Plains has productive soil but, because of 

 relatively low average rainfall, much of the land (including mine) is irrigated. With irrigation, 

 in normal years farmers in this area can produce good yields. 



Over a decade ago, I was a producer of cotton, wheat, and other "program" crops, but 

 decided to switch to vegetable and specialty crops. I did this because many of the "program" 

 crops I had been producing were in surplus supply, and the USDA Extension Service 

 encouraged the switch. By doing so, I could take better advantage of my irrigation water and 

 our sunny and warm growing season in the High Plains. Since then, I have become a moderate- 

 sized producer of pumpkin and sweet corn, as well as other specialty crops. 



I was not the only farmer in my county and surrounding counties to get into vegetable 

 and specialty crop production; many, many others have over the course of years. Now, the 

 High Plains is known for its high quality vegetable and melon production. 



