News Releases for April 2005
April 20, 2005
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Hoeven: Better Quality Loss Treatment For All Wheat
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has clarified its rules on market-discounted wheat and will now include all classes of the commodity for better disaster program loss treatment.
Amendments to the quality loss program rules clarify that producers of hard red spring wheat, durum wheat and winter wheat will benefit due to a more accurate assessment of losses incurred through drought, excess moisture and frost, according to Hoeven.
“This is consistent with information we received from the USDA in February that all classes of North Dakota wheat would be included,” Hoeven said. “The state Farm Service Agency will be able to use charts based on collections of actual market discounts. This is very similar to the arrangement we had in 2001 and 2002, and most producers agree that system worked well.”
Hoeven joined wheat and barley farmers in Washington, D.C. last July to press for the disaster assistance package that passed last fall. In February, Hoeven and Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple secured a commitment from the USDA for increased quality loss payments.
“The North Dakota Grain Growers Association and the U.S. Durum Growers Association deserve a great deal of credit for their efforts to ensure the disaster bill works for North Dakota farmers and recognizes actual quality losses,” Hoeven said.
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