Kent Conrad: “Again, I want to indicate the facts. For those who have said crop insurance is the answer, crop insurance will keep…”

“Again, I want to indicate the facts. For those who have said crop insurance is the answer, crop insurance will keep these people from dramatic losses--wrong. That is not true. This bill will not prevent farmers from dramatic losses. If they have had a 50-percent loss, even with this legislation, they are going to lose nearly 30 percent. If they have had a 75-percent loss, even with this legislation, even with crop insurance, even with buying up to the level that is the most frequent level that farmers buy, they will have a loss of nearly 30 percent. This program is not going to make farmers rich or even make them whole. But it will make the difference for thousands of farm families who otherwise may be forced off the land. Farmers and ranchers need assistance for the 2005 and 2006 natural disaster losses, and they need it now. If these emergencies are not dealt with, tens of thousands of farm families and Main Street businesses will suffer, many irreparably. I have had farm meeting after farm meeting all across my State. Farmers and their families have told me that if assistance is not forthcoming, this will be their last year. I am not talking about a few, I am talking about thousands in my State. As I have indicated, North Dakota, unfortunately, is not alone. This is a drought that has been devastating to the heartland of America. That is why there are 28 sponsors of this legislation on a fully bipartisan basis.”