1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS Web98-952 ENRUpdated December 23, 1998The Emergency Agricultural Provisions in theFY1999 Omnibus Appropriations ActRalph M. ChiteSpecialist in Agricultural PolicyEnvironment and Natural Resources Po
2、licy DivisionSummaryThe FY1999 Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Appropriations Act (P.L. 105-277) contains $5.9 billion in emergency spending for USDA programs, primarily toshore up farm income and to compensate farmers for natural disasters. More than one-half of this amount ($3.1 billion) is in
3、the form of direct payments to grain, cotton, anddairy farmers for income assistance, which was paid out shortly after enactment. TheSecretary announced on December 12 that the $2.375 billion in disaster paymentsprovided by the Act will be disbursed in the spring of 1999 to farmers who eitherexperie
4、nced crop losses in 1998 greater than 35% percent of normal yields, or had lossesin 3 of the last 5 years. A portion of this money will be reserved to further subsidizefarmer participation in the crop insurance program. The Act also includes livestockdisaster assistance, commodity loans for honey an
