68 



We recommend that there be a quality adjustment in the Federal 

 disaster program for organically grown and marketed produce. 



In regards to the droughts in the South, the poultry growers 

 there are almost all contract farmers who do not really own their 

 birds. When the heat killed hundreds of thousands of birds, these 

 contract farmers could not qualify for any program because they 

 did not own the birds. 



However, the family farm, Tysons, could apply for the loss. The 

 contract farmer has lost his flock and his income, yet his indebted- 

 ness and bills remained. There needs to be allowed a status to 

 apply for Federal disaster relief so they can somehow recover their 

 income. 



Another recommendation we have is for the improvement of the 

 Federal disaster program in the fairness in determining the actual 

 crop loss and preventive planting of those of our farmers who are 

 enrolled in an integrated farm management program. 



At this time I would like to share with you my personal problem 

 in regards to our cow-calf units. We have 80 cow-calf units, and it 

 was devastating this spring when the waters came. Our small cows 

 would try to follow their mother cow across the stream and drown 

 in the water. 



The place that I tried to go to receive help was the local FmHA 

 office, and the booklet here is 67 pages long to apply for some kind 

 of disaster. Now, the 10 calves that I lost out of my 80 herd did 

 not meet the requirements of 40 percent overall loss; so, therefore 

 I did not apply — I did not qualify for any program under the FmHA 

 loan. 



So I ask you here today: Where do I go to get help when my 

 calves, my livestock are lost due to the water conditions? 



Our major concern now is that farmers who do not have the abil- 

 ity to make their principal and interest payments, to the FmHA 

 this year, due to the disaster, be allowed to defer their pa3rments 

 or put them at the end of their loans without having to become de- 

 linquent. This, too, would apply for commercial bankers. 



Perhaps we can defer our principal and interest payments on to 

 the end of our loans. According to our local ASCS office as of Sep- 

 tember, South Dakota's estimated agricultural losses totaled 

 $725,737,000. 



Since then, we have had an early frost, and losses may exceed 

 $1 billion. In our five county areas, we have lost four implement 

 dealers, also other Main Street businesses. I urge the — and my 

 final concluding statement is to continue a disaster program that 

 will help us American farmers stay on the land and make a decent 

 living. And perhaps we can make this all happen in the 1995 farm 

 bill. 



Thank you. 



[The prepared statement of Mrs. Hendricks appears at the con- 

 clusion of the hearing.] 



Mr. Johnson. Thank you, Mrs. Hendricks. 



Mr. Gebhards. 



