Release No. 0022.97

                                    Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623
                                    Dann Stuart  (202) 690-0474


CLINTON ADMINISTRATION PROVIDES ADDITIONAL DISASTER RELIEF TO FARMERS IN
  THE DAKOTAS

     BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, Jan. 31, 1997 -- Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Richard Rominger today announced a new cost-share assistance program, the
Foundation Livestock Relief Program (FLRP), to help producers provide feed for
livestock in North and South  Dakota and 35 counties contiguous to the Dakotas
included in Presidential disaster declarations.  Rominger also announced an
extension of time for some producers to apply for help in transporting feed to
isolated livestock.

     Because of the severe cold in addition to heavy snows, livestock feed
requirements are running about 150 percent of normal.  USDA will provide 30
percent cost-share assistance on the lesser of the actual cost of feed
purchased or a computed feed allowance for a maximum of 30 days.  Producers
will have to present purchase receipts to receive benefits.  Only receipts
reflecting purchases from January 10 through February 25 will be accepted.
USDA will observe the $2.5 million gross revenue and $50,000 payment
limitation rules.

     "One storm after another continues to create perilous conditions for
livestock in those states, and we are committed to providing help when and
where we can," Rominger said.  "While we cannot provide widespread, general
relief, we can help out in the most critical cases where foundation herds,
including this spring's calf crop, are at risk.  We initially tried to make
the Disaster Reserve Assistance Program (DRAP)  work to meet this disaster,
but it did not meet the needs of producers in this case.  DRAP was created to
deal with crop failures, and it doesn't work for a blizzard situation."
Producers will not have to meet the crop loss criteria or the feed on hand
criteria applicable to DRAP.

     "The prolonged, extreme weather conditions in the area have caused
severe nutritional problems for cattle.  Reports reaching us tell of cows
dying or aborting their calves because the  forage-quality hay is not meeting
their nutritional needs.  Some of those cows will be too weak by spring to
have their calves and, in many cases, calves that are born will be too weak to
survive.  Supplemental nutrition is badly needed, " Rominger said.

     This assistance is limited to foundation herd and replacement livestock
only in those counties named in Presidential disaster declarations of January
10 and 12.  The entire States of North Dakota and South Dakota were declared
disaster areas, plus the contiguous counties of:
    Lyon, Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury in Iowa;
    Big Stone, Clay, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Marshall, Norman, Pipestone,
     Polk, Rock, Traverse, Wilkin, and Yellow Medicine in Minnesota;
    Carter, Fallon, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Wibaux in Montana;
     and
    Boyd, Cedar, Cherry, Dakota, Dawes, Dixon, Keya Paha, Knox, Sheridan,
     and Sioux in Nebraska; and Crook, Niobrara and Weston in Wyoming.

     Rominger also announced a 15 day extension of time for some producers to
apply for cost-share assistance for transporting feed to snow-isolated
livestock.  "Because of the limited snow removal equipment, every eligible
producer was not able to contract for needed transportation assistance during
our initial time frame."

     "Specifically, producers who do not have access to their normal feed
supplies and whose livestock are in danger of perishing, and who could not
contract for this assistance during the original 15-day period will have until
February 10 to do so," he said.

          Only producers who did not receive cost-share for transportation
assistance during the original 15-day period are eligible for the extended
period.

          "I want to thank all of the members of the North and South Dakota
Congressional delegations -- Senator Daschle, Senator Johnson, Congressman
Thune from South Dakota, and Senator Conrad, Senator Dorgan and Congressman
Pomeroy from North Dakota -- for their help in designing the best program
possible," Rominger said.
                                #

NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet.
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov