16 



Mr. Smith of Oregon. We have rain-damaged splitting in cher- 

 ries. 



Mr. Weber. That would qualify as well. 



Mr. Smith of Oregon. We have talked about wheat. 



Grass seed, we have had a tough season; it is very wet; can't har- 

 vest grass seed very well. We have a drop in production of grass 

 quality. Covered? 



Mr. Weber. That would be covered. 



Mr. Smith of Oregon. I think the point is made that somebody 

 somewhere should sit down and discuss the philosophy of what we 

 are doing here. Everybody wants to be Santa Glaus, but we have 

 expanded this program now to cover quality which no one ever 

 dreamed some of these crops would be covered. It is nice. It is good 

 for the farmer. 



Do we have the money to cover disaster and all these exotic side 

 effects of quality? That is my question. And I want to follow care- 

 fully. And if you will give me numbers of expenditures for quality 

 payments for farmers to loss of quality product, I would appreciate 

 it. 



Mr. Weber. Thank you. 



[The information follows:] 



Payments for quality loss for 1990-91-92 crops have not been made yet; expendi- 

 ture totals will be available late in 1993. Quality loss adjustment payments for the 

 1993 crop will not be available until mid- 1994. 



Mr. Johnson. The gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Volkmer. 



Mr. Volkmer. Yes, I have several questions. 



I would like to get to those. First let me read you some questions 

 and answers. You tell me if you agree with it rather than me put 

 you on the spot and ask you for an answer that may be different. 

 I would rather get you on the record as, approving this answer, I 

 like this answer. 



The question is: Is unleveed bottomland ever eligible for EGP 

 cost-share assistance? 



And if so, under what circumstances? 



And the answer would be, yes, provided the land is not under a 

 flowage easement and the GOG is able to make a determination 

 that the land is not susceptible to frequent damage. 



Is that the correct answer? 



Mr. Weber. That is good. 



Mr. Volkmer. Thank you. 



Gan farmland that is adjacent to a river that had an annual oc- 

 currence of water overflowing the river banks onto the farmland be 

 eligible for ECP? 



Answer, yes, provided the GOG determines the annual flooding 

 has not caused severe damage to the land. 



Mr. Weber. Once again, you are right. 



Mr. Volkmer. Now, let me — as a question — this is a little subjec- 

 tive. The question is severe. 



Mr. Weber. I'm sorry. I didn't catch that. 



Mr. Volkmer. The subjective question that the COG is wonder- 

 ing about is the question of severe — has not caused severe damage 

 to the land. And I don't know what we mean exactly by "severe." 



