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National Family Farm Coalition 



no Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 307 • Washington, DC 20002 • (202) 543-5675 • Fax (202) 543-0978 



TESTIMONY OF DIXIE HEiNDRlCKS • CORONA, SOUTH DAKOTA 



U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON GENERAL FARM COMMODITIES 



HEARING ON FEDERAL DISASTER PROGRAM 



SEPTEMBER 28, 1993 ]10 A.M. 



Goodmoming. My name is Dixie Hendricks, and I farm with my husband 

 and children in northeast South Dakota, west of Corona. I am testifying 

 today on behalf of the National Family Farm Coalition, a coalition of over 

 three dozens farm, church and citizens groups striving for the revitalization of 

 Rural America. I am also testiiying on behalf of Dakota Rural Action, a 

 South Dakota-based membership organization of rural people working to give 

 people a voice in decisions affecting their lives- Dakota Rural Action is a 

 member group of the Coalition. 



The natural disaster of 1993 in the midwest and south is one that is tough 

 for most farmers to weather - coming out of the man made disaster of federal 

 farm policy of the last ten years. Most famiers who survived the farm crisis 

 have no margin to fall back on this year to make up the lost income due to 

 lost crops or prevented planting. And the federal crop insurance program 

 does not serve as a good risk management tool for farm businesses, making 

 us very dependent on the federal government for our survival. 



That's why we are thankful that Congress and President Clinton 

 authorized 100 percent payment of the federal farm disaster formula, which 

 covers our losses at about 42 cents on the dollar. While this disaster 

 coverage is the best case scenario and won't keep some people in operation to 

 put in a CTop next spring, it is a huge improvement over the disaster payment 

 limit of the last few years. Many Dakota Rural Action members and other 

 fanners around the country are in their second, and in some cases, third year 

 of crop losses due to weather. They have dealt with poor crop insurance and 

 have received only half of the disaster program payment which covers losses 

 at 21 cents on the dollar. Adequate disaster relief wiU do more for rural 

 America and mainstreet businesses than any jobs bill or employment package 

 that Congress could pass. 



I would like to discuss some remaining concerns we have about the 



recyded paper . CP — 



