Mike Enzi: “I won't read the entire letter, but I would like to highlight a few points that Bob and Nancy make. They are very…”

“I won't read the entire letter, but I would like to highlight a few points that Bob and Nancy make. They are very thankful for the assistance given through the Livestock Feed Assistance Program and the Livestock Compensation Program. These programs together provide about $41 of assistance per cow. With this assistance, they have purchased additional feed to supply their needs for the winter. The Tarvers point out in their letter, however, that they have lost about $374 per cow in 2002 due to drought. This loss has occurred primarily through reduced forage growth in pastures, increased hay costs and lower cattle weights. The drought assistance provided so far has been short term. If we are going to save our family ranchers, we must do more. The Senate has consistently supported providing real relief to our producers. In September we voted on an emergency agricultural amendment I cosponsored. That amendment would have provided almost $6 billion on both farmers and livestock producers endangered by the drought across America. After it was passed 79-16, the amendment was stalled along with the Interior Appropriations bill. This was not the first time the Senate has shown strong support for disaster relief only to have it snatched away. Senator Baucus and I successfully added an agricultural disaster assistance package to the farm bill with a steady 69-30 vote. The assistance package was removed from the conference report by the House.”