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 should be used to determine eligibility for disaster aid in the 

 event of catastrophic losses. 



Another area of concern for producers affected by this year's 

 disasters is compliance with conservation plans. Many producers in 

 states affected by heavy rains and flooding will be unable to 

 comply with requirements of their approved conservation plans. In 

 some instances, compliance is simply not possible; in others, 

 compliance is possible but not affordable this year. ASA feels 

 that it is important that Congress and USDA take these unusual 

 circumstances into account by allowing local Soil Conservation 

 Service (SCS) to make case-by-case adjustments for producers trying 

 to meet conservation plan requirements. 



ASA also hopes Congress and the Administration will respond to 

 the magnitude of these losses and demand for disaster assistance by 

 moving quickly to reform crop insurance. We are pleased Secretary 

 Espy has formed a crop insurance reform task force to address the 

 obvious need for change in the current program. Soybean producers 

 have long believed that crop insurance needs a major overhaul. 

 In particular, soybean producers should be eligible for insurance 

 for prevented planting, as is available for program crops. ASA will 

 participate actively in the Secretary's task force and will work 

 with any Member of Congress who is interested in reforming the 

 current system. 



