Order Code RL31095
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Emergency Funding for Agriculture:
A Brief History of Supplemental Appropriations,
FY1989-FY2005
Updated June 23, 2005
Ralph M. Chite
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Congressional Research Service { The Library of Congress

---

Emergency Funding for Agriculture:
A Brief History of Supplemental Appropriations,
FY1989-FY2005
Summary
From FY1989 through FY2005 (to date), 31 appropriations, authorization, or
farm disaster acts added approximately $53.2 billion in supplemental funding for
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs (excluding the Forest Service,
which is funded annually under the Interior appropriations bill). Nearly $41 billion,
or 77% of the total amount, was for FY1999-FY2005 alone. Two FY2005
supplementals have been enacted to date, the largest of which was a disaster relief
package in response to the 2004 hurricanes and other natural disasters, which
included $3.5 billion for agricultural losses (attached to the FY2005 Military
Construction Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-324)). Most recently, a total of $344.5
million in USDA funding for overseas food aid and domestic flood assistance was
provided in a May 2005 Iraqi war and tsunami relief supplemental (P.L. 109-13).
Since FY1989, the vast majority ($41.4 billion) of the total supplemental
funding has been paid directly to farmers, primarily through two mechanisms:
“market loss payments” ($21.4 billion, all from FY1999-FY2001) to compensate for
low farm commodity prices, and crop disaster payments ($20.0 billion) paid to any
producer who experienced a major crop loss caused by a natural disaster. The
remaining $11.8 billion has funded a wide array of other USDA programs, including
livestock feed assistance programs, farm conservation programs, specialty crop
assistance, farm loans, and non-farm USDA programs such as overseas food aid,
food and nutrition programs, and rural development and housing assistance.
In recent years, virtually all of the supplemental spending has been provided
under an emergency designation from Congress and the Administration, meaning that
the new spending did not have to be offset with comparable reductions in other
programs. However, P.L. 108-324 placed a cap on the authorized funding level for
a mandatory conservation program beginning in FY2008, to offset most of the cost
of the FY2005 agricultural assistance in the act.
Total annual funding additions in the 31 acts providing economic and farm
disaster assistance through USDA programs since FY1989 are as follows:
FY1989: $ 3.4 billion
FY1998: $ 0.2 billion
FY1990: $ 1.5 billion
FY1999: $ 6.6 billion
FY1991: $ 0
FY2000: $ 14.8 billion
FY1992: $ 1.0 billion
FY2001: $ 11.3 billion
FY1993: $ 1.9 billion
FY2002: $ 0.6 billion
FY1994: $ 3.1 billion
FY2003: $ 3.6 billion
FY1995: $ 0.6 billion
FY2004: $ 0.2 billion
FY1996: $ 0.1 billion
FY2005: $ 3.8 billion
FY1997: $ 0.5 billion
Grand Total, FY1989-FY2005 (to date): $53.2 billion

---

Contents
Table 1. History of Supplemental Appropriations, FY1989-FY2005 . . . . . . . . . . 1

---

Emergency Funding for Agriculture:
A Brief History of Supplemental
Appropriations, FY1989-FY2005
Table 1. History of Supplemental Appropriations,
FY1989-FY2005
Act
Major Agricultural Provisions
Disaster Assistance
Authorized USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to use
Act of 1988
its authority to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, in order to provide
direct disaster payments to farmers for 1988 crop losses using
(P.L. 100-387,
payment formula in this statute. Permanently authorized livestock
August 11, 1988)
feed assistance programs. No specific appropriation made, nor
limitations placed on payment formulas in the act. CCC outlays in
FY1989 were $3.386 billion for direct disaster payments under
this act.
Disaster Assistance
Authorized the CCC to provide disaster payments to farmers for
Act of 1989
1989 crop losses. Payments were not direct cash payments, but
instead were made in the form of certificates redeemable for
(P.L. 101-82,
Government-owned grain. No specific appropriation, nor
August 14, 1989)
limitation placed on formula payment.
The CCC ultimately provided $1.48 billion in commodity
certificates in FY1990 under this act.
Dire Emergency
Authorized the CCC to make $1.75 billion in direct disaster
Supplemental
payments using a payment formula authorized by the 1990 farm
Appropriations for
bill (P.L. 101-624). Of this total amount, $995 million was
Natural Disasters and
available for 1990 or 1991 crop losses. The remaining $755
Operation Desert
million was made available for 1990, 1991 or 1992 crop losses,
Shield/Desert Storm
pending a request as an emergency designation by the
Administration, which was later granted. $100 million of the total
(P.L. 102-229,
was reserved for program crops planted in 1991 for harvest in
December 12, 1991)
1992.
Dire Emergency
In response to Hurricane Andrew and other disasters, P.L. 102-368
Supplemental
provided a total of $1.093 billion in farm and nonfarm disaster
Appropriations Act,
assistance through various USDA programs, including:
1992; Hurricane
Andrew, Typhoon
$382 million in farm disaster payments immediately to
Omar, Hurricane
supplement the $755 million made available by P.L. 102-229 (see
Iniki, etc.
above). Authorized an additional $100 million for disaster
payments, pending a separate budget request by the President (later
(P.L. 102-368,
granted in 1993).
September 23, 1992)
Also included in the total is $711.5 million in other USDA-
administered emergency assistance, including:

---

CRS-2
— $400 million in additional food stamp funding for
disaster areas;
— $72.3 million for various rural development loan and
grant programs, particularly for repair and rehabilitation
of water and waste systems damaged by natural
disasters;
— $62 million for emergency watershed programs (repair
damages to waterways and watersheds near farmland);
— $48 million for the Tree Assistance Program (cost-
sharing program to replant tree stands destroyed by a
disaster);
— $43.285 million in loan subsidy for USDA to make
$162.5 million in additional emergency disaster loans;
— $40.25 million for various rural housing loan and grant
programs;
— $27.5 million for the Emergency Conservation Program
(rehabilitation of farmland following a disaster);
— $15 million to restore damaged federal research
facilities;
— $3.2 million for salaries and expenses to administer
emergency programs.
Supplemental
The act allowed USDA to apply the unexpended authority for
Appropriations Act of
disaster payments (approximately $300 million) in P.L. 102-229
1993
and P.L. 102-368 to make disaster payments for reductions in crop
quality caused by any natural disaster affecting a 1990 through
(P.L. 103-50,
1993 crop. Also allowed these unexpended funds to be used for
July 2, 1993)
any future crop losses (1993 through 1995) associated with
Hurricane Andrew (1992).
The act also made available approximately $145 million to
various other rural development and housing programs, all of
which was offset by a comparable amount of rescissions in other
USDA programs.
Emergency
The act provided approximately $2.7 billion in total USDA
Supplemental
assistance, including $2.5 billion in farm disaster payments for
Appropriations for
losses associated with the Midwest flood of 1993, and other
Relief from the Major,
agricultural disasters. Of this $2.5 billion, the act provided a
Widespread Flooding
specific appropriation of $1.050 billion immediately, another $300
in the Midwest Act of
million in contingent appropriations, and allowed the CCC to
1993
borrow as much as necessary to fully fund the payment formula
(which later amounted to approximately $1.1 billion in additional
(P.L. 103-75,
borrowing.)
August 12, 1993)
Also included within the total is $60 million for Watershed and
Flood Prevention Operations; $55.4 million for rural development
programs;. $30 million for the Emergency Conservation Program;
$21.8 million for farm loan programs; $21 million for rural
housing programs; $12 million for the administration of disaster
programs; and $3.5 million for the Extension Service.
Emergency
Enacted in response to the major California earthquake in Jan.
Supplemental
1993, the act provided $376.1 million to USDA programs,
Appropriations Act of
including $340.5 million for Watershed and Flood Prevention
1994
Operations; $25 million for the Emergency Conservation Program;
and $1.4 million to the Extension Service. It also allowed the

---

CRS-3
(P.L. 103-211,
Commodity Credit Corporation to use its borrowing authority to
February 12, 1994)
fund the Tree Assistance Program for any 1993 crop year disaster.
CCC spending for 1993 TAP-eligible losses was $9.2 million,
included in the $376.1 million total. The act also allowed nursery
crops to be included in 1993 crop loss payments under P.L. 103-75
above. Approximately $200 million of the additional spending was
offset by rescissions made to various USDA programs.
Agricultural, Rural
The regular FY1995 appropriations act for agriculture required the
Development, FDA,
CCC to provide such sums as may be necessary on an emergency
and Related Agencies
basis to fully fund the disaster payment formula in the 1990 farm
Appropriations Act,
bill for 1994 crop losses, including aquaculture but excluding
1995
ornamental fish. It also provided payments for subsequent 1995
and 1996 orchard losses caused by a 1994 freeze. CCC outlays for
(P.L. 103-330,
1994 crop losses amounted to approximately $600 million.
September 30, 1994)
Omnibus Consolidated
In response to Hurricanes Bertha and Marilyn, Pacific Northwest
Rescissions and
flooding, Northeast blizzards and other disasters, the act provided
Appropriations Act of
$129.4 million for various USDA programs, including $80.5
1996
million for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations, $30
million for the Emergency Conservation Program; $11 million for
(P.L. 104-134,
rural utility grants; and $7.6 million for rural housing repair loans
April 26, 1996)
and grants.
Agricultural, Rural
A supplemental provision in the regular FY1997 agriculture
Development, FDA,
appropriations act made available $32.244 million in loan subsidy
and Related Agencies
to support $110 million in emergency disaster farm loans.
Appropriations Act,
1997
(P.L. 104-180,
August 6, 1996)
Omnibus Consolidated
In response to Hurricanes Fran and Hortense and other disasters,
Appropriations Act,
the P.L. 104-208 provided $88 million for USDA flood assistance
1997
programs, including $63 million for Watershed and Flood
Prevention Operations, and $25 million for the Emergency
(P.L. 104-208,
Conservation Program.
September 30, 1996)
1997 Emergency
The act made available $393 million in supplemental USDA
Supplemental
assistance including, $166 million for Watershed and Flood
Appropriations Act for
Prevention Operations; $76 million for the WIC program; $70
Recovery from
million for the Emergency Conservation Program; $50 million for
Natural Disasters, and
the Livestock Indemnity Program, (which pays farmers a certain
for Overseas Peace-
amount for each head of cattle lost to a disaster); $18 million in
keeping Efforts,
loan subsidy to support $70 million in additional USDA
Including Those in
emergency disaster loans; $9 million for the Tree Assistance
Bosnia
Program; and $4 million for loan subsidies and grants for the Rural
Utilities Assistance Program, for the repair of water and sewer
(P.L. 105-18,
systems following a natural disaster.
June 12, 1997)
1998 Supplemental
In response to El Nino-driven storms and other natural disasters,
Appropriations and
the act provided a total of $159.8 million in emergency farm
Rescissions Act
spending, including $80 million for the Watershed and Flood

---

CRS-4
(P.L. 105-174,
Prevention Program; $34 million for the Emergency Conservation
May 1, 1998)
Program; $14 million for the Tree Assistance Program; $21 million
in loan subsidy to support $87.4 million in additional emergency
disaster loans; $4 million for the Livestock Indemnity Program;
and $6.8 million for dairy farmer disaster payments.
Approximately $47.5 million in rescissions to various other USDA
programs was made to offset a portion of the cost of new spending.
Omnibus
Provided a total of $5.893 billion in emergency supplemental
Appropriations Act of
appropriations to USDA, primarily for assistance to farmers for
1999
natural disasters and low farm commodity prices, including:
— $3.057 billion in “market loss payments” made to grain,
(P.L. 105-277,
cotton and dairy farmers in response to low farm
October 21, 1998)
commodity prices;
— $1.3 billion in farm disaster payments for 1998 crop
losses;
— $575 million in disaster payments for multi-year crop
losses;
— $400 million in premium discounts for growers of a
1999 crop who purchase crop insurance coverage;
— $200 million for livestock feed assistance (for livestock
farmers who lost on farm feed to a disaster);
— $50 million in Alaska salmon assistance;
— $40 million for USDA Farm Service Agency salaries to
administer various farm assistance programs;
— $31.4 million in loan subsidy to support a variety of
existing direct and guaranteed farm loan programs;
— $27 million for recourse loans to mohair growers;
— $25 million for Food for Progress, an overseas food aid
program;
— $1 million for honey recourse loans.
For more information, see CRS Report 98-952.
1999 Emergency
Provided nearly $723 million in emergency assistance for USDA
Supplemental
programs, including:
Appropriations Act
— $149.2 million in emergency food assistance to the
Balkans through the P.L. 480 program;
(P.L. 106-31,
— $145 million for USDA’s Section 32 program, to help
May 21, 1999)
stabilize farm prices of surplus commodities;
— $105.6 million in loan subsidy to support additional
loans of $1.095 billion for various USDA farm loan
programs;
— $95 million for Watershed and Flood Prevention;
— $70 million for the Livestock Assistance Program to
reimburse farmers for the loss of on-farm feed to a
disaster;
— $42.75 million in salaries and expenses of USDA’s
Farm Service Agency, for administering emergency
programs;
— $32 million for various rural development programs in
response to a hurricane in Puerto Rico;
— $28 million for the Emergency Conservation Program;
— $28 million for Conservation Reserve Program technical
assistance;
— $20 million for migrant and seasonal farm worker

---

CRS-5
assistance;
— $3 million for livestock indemnity payments.
Agricultural, Rural
Provided $8.7 billion in FY2000 emergency funding for USDA
Development, Food
programs in response to low farm commodity prices and various
and Drug
natural disasters, including:
Administration, and
— $6.5 billion in “market loss” payments to compensate
Related Agencies
growers of specific farm commodities for low market
Appropriations Act,
prices including $5.5 billion to grains and cotton; $475
FY2000
million to oilseeds; $328 million to tobacco; $125
million for dairy; and $42 million for peanuts;
(P.L. 106-78,
— $1.2 billion in disaster payments for 1999 crop losses;
October 22, 1999)
— $400 million in premium discounts for producers
purchasing crop insurance for a 2000 year crop (and
additional administrative costs of $250 million);
— $200 million in livestock feed assistance;
— an estimated $201 million for the cotton Step-2 export
competitiveness program;
— one-year extension of the dairy price support program;
— temporary authority for honey and mohair recourse
loans (no additional costs expected).
For more information, see CRS Report RS20696.
Consolidated
Provided $577 million to supplement several emergency programs
Appropriations Act for
initially funded by P.L. 106-78 (see above), for relief from
FY2000
Hurricane Floyd in North Carolina, and for other purposes,
including $186 million in additional farm disaster payments;
(P.L. 106-113,
$178.6 million in loan subsidy to support $2.5 billion in additional
November 29, 1999)
USDA farm loan programs; $80 million for the Watershed and
Flood Prevention Program; $50 million for the Emergency
Conservation Program; $25.6 million in rural housing loan and
grant funds; $22 million in miscellaneous disaster assistance for
Oregon (flood) and Florida (citrus canker); $20 million for the
Noninsured Assistance Program; $10 million in additional
livestock feed assistance; $2.8 million in additional tobacco
assistance.
For more information, see CRS Report RS20696.
Agriculture Risk
Title II provided a total of $7.14 billion in emergency farm
Protection Act of 2000
assistance ($5.5 billion in FY2000 and $1.64 billion in FY2001),
mostly in direct payments to growers of various commodities to
(P.L. 106-224,
compensate for low farm commodity prices.
June 20, 2000)
For FY2000: $5.5 billion in market loss payments to growers of
grains and cotton, similar to those made in P.L.106-78 above.
For FY2001:
— $997 million in direct market loss payments, including
$500 million to oilseed growers; $340 million for
tobacco; $100 million for cottonseed; $47 million for
peanuts; $10 million for wool & mohair.
— A total of $301 million in assistance to fruit and
vegetable growers, including $200 million in purchases
of commodities in surplus during the 1998 and 1999
crop years, and $25 million in compensation for various
crop diseases.
Other FY2001 crop provisions allow:

---

CRS-6
— a producer to receive a loan deficiency payment (LDP)
if the land is grazed rather than harvested in 2001 (cost
of $43 million);
— certain previously ineligible grain and cotton growers to
receive a 2000 crop-year LDP ($35 million); and honey
growers to receive recourse loans for the 2000 crop ($7
million).
The balance of FY2000-2001 spending includes $110 million for
nutrition programs; $51 million for research programs; $50 million
for conservation programs; $24 million for crop and pasture flood
compensation; $15 million in emergency loans for seed producers;
$15 million for agricultural marketing programs; $13 million for
animal disease control programs; and $5 million for boll weevil
eradication loans.
For more information, see CRS Report RS20696.
Emergency
Provided $210.4 million to USDA programs, primarily for
Supplemental Act for
additional assistance to farm and rural areas affected by a series of
FY2000 (Title II of the 1999 hurricanes and by 2000 wildfires in the Southwest, including
Military Construction
$81 million in crop loan forgiveness for North Carolina producers
Appropriations Act,
whose collateral for a 1999 marketing loan was destroyed by a
2001)
hurricane; $77.6 million for the Farm Service Agency for
temporary staff to administer emergency farm programs, for civil
(P.L. 106-246,
rights cases, and for information technology expenses; $29.5
July 13, 2000)
million for various USDA rural housing loan and grant programs
for hurricane aftermath; $10 million for the Emergency
Conservation Program and $4 million for Watershed and Flood
Prevention Operations for damage caused by wildfires in the
Southwest; and $7 million for the peanut price support program to
cover 1999 program losses, which must eventually be repaid by
producers.
Agricultural, Rural
Authorized an estimated $4.0 billion in FY2001 supplemental
Development, Food
USDA spending, including the following major provisions:
and Drug
— $1.8 billion in natural disaster payments for 2000 crop
Administration, and
losses;
Related Agencies
— $675 million in income assistance payments to dairy
Appropriations Act,
farmers;
FY2001
— $500 million in livestock disaster assistance;
— $220 million for various rural development loan and
(P.L. 106-387,
grant programs;
October 28, 2000)
— $138 million to apple and potato growers for crop losses
and low prices;
— $117 million to increase farmer enrollment in the
Wetlands Reserve Program;
— $110 million for the Emergency Watershed Program;
— $80 million for the Emergency Conservation Program;
— $77 million for various crop diseases;
— $53 million in tobacco assistance;
— $50 million for FSA to administer emergency programs
— $40 million for conservation technical assistance;
— $40 million for a modification of food stamp eligibility;
and
— $20 million each for various forms of assistance for
honey, wool and mohair, cranberry growers, and

---

CRS-7
California fruit growers. For more information, see
CRS Report RL30501.
Supplemental
Provides $65.5 million in various forms of assistance, including
Appropriations Act,
$35.5 million for Watershed and Flood Prevention programs in
2001
Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin; $20 million
for farmers in the Klamath Basin region affected by the
(P.L. 107-20,
unavailability of irrigation water; $5 million for the Animal and
July 24, 2001)
Plant Health Inspection Service to guard against the threat of foot
and mouth disease, mad cow disease and other foreign animal
diseases; $3 million to enforce the Animal Welfare Act and
humane slaughter practices; and $2 million to assist Yakima Basin
farmers in Washington state.
“To respond to the
Provides a total of $5.5 billion in emergency FY2001 income
continuing economic
assistance to farmers, as permitted by the FY2002 budget
crisis adversely
resolution:
affecting American
— Total direct payments of $5.33 billion to supplement the
agricultural
income of growers of various crops including —
producers”
$4.622 billion to grain and rice farmers; $423.51 million
(FY2001 Supplemental
for oilseeds; $129 million for tobacco; $84.7 million for
Authorization for
cottonseed; $54.21 million for peanuts; and $16.94
Agriculture)
million for wool and mohair.
— Total assistance of $159.4 million is provided to
(P.L. 107-25,
growers of specialty crops (primarily fruits and
August 13, 2001)
vegetables). This includes base grants of $500,000 per
state and $1 million for Puerto Rico, for a total of $26
million. An additional $133.4 million in specialty crop
assistance is provided to the 50 states in proportion to
the value of specialty crop production in the state to
national value of specialty crop production.
— $10 million to make grants to states to pay the costs
related to the processing, transportation and distribution
of commodities for the Emergency Food Assistance
Program (EFAP).
Making emergency
Authorized a total of $40 billion in emergency supplemental
supplemental
funding government-wide to recover from the September 11
appropriations for
terrorist attacks and to combat terrorism. Of the first $20 billion
FY2001, in response to
that was made immediately available, $95 million was allocated by
the September 11,
the President to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service for P.L. 480
2001 terrorist attacks
Title II grants to provide food aid to Afghanistan to mitigate the
impact of the ongoing conflict and drought. The second $20
(P.L. 107-38,
billion could be obligated only when enacted in a subsequent
September 18, 2001)
emergency appropriations bill. (See P.L. 107-117 below for
USDA’s portion of the second $20 billion.)
Department of Defense
As required by P.L. 107-38 above, the obligation of the second $20
and Emergency
billion of the $40 billion authorized by P.L. 107-38 required
Supplemental
enactment of a subsequent act defining the use of the funds. P.L.
Appropriations for
107-117 authorized $367 million of the funds for USDA programs
Recovery from and
primarily to enhance security at the Department and its research
Response to Terrorist
facilities, including $119.1 million to the Animal and Plant Health
Attacks on the United
Inspection Service; $113 million to the Agricultural Research
States Act, 2002
Service; $80.9 million to the Secretary’s office; and $15 million to

---

CRS-8
(P.L. 107-117,
the Food Safety Inspection Service. Also included is $39 million
January 10, 2002)
for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant
and Children (WIC) in response to the downturn in the national
economy.
The supplemental provisions in this act provided governmentwide
Making supplemental
funds to combat terrorism and for other purposes, of which a
appropriations for
portion was contingent upon a request and emergency declaration
further recovery from
from the President. Subsequent to enactment, the President stated
and response to
that he would not provide such a request and designation, hence
terrorist attacks on the
making these contingent funds unavailable. For USDA programs
United States for the
(excluding the Forest Service), the act provided $212 million in
fiscal year ending
September 30, 2002,
non-contingent funding, including $94 million for Watershed and
Flood Prevention Operations; $75 million for the WIC program;
and for other
purposes.
$25 million for security at the Ames, Iowa animal disease research
facility; $10 million in agricultural assistance to producers along
(P.L. 107-206,
the Rio Grande due to failure of Mexico to deliver water under a
August 2, 2002)
current treaty; and $8 million to fund local television loan
guarantees in rural areas. Another $148 million in funding for
USDA programs required a presidential request and emergency
declaration which was not given. Hence, these funds were not
made available. For more information, see CRS Report RL31301.
Consolidated
This measure contained an estimated $3.1 billion in farm disaster
Appropriations
assistance, in response to severe drought and other natural disasters
Resolution, FY2003
affecting 2001 and 2002 farm production. The full cost of these
(P.L. 108-7,
provisions was offset by a $3.7 billion limitation placed on future
mandatory spending (FY2003-2013) for the Conservation Security
February 20, 2003)
Program.
The $3.1 billion in agricultural assistance included:
— an estimated $2.1 billion in direct disaster payments for
crop losses in either 2001 or 2002, but not both years;
— direct payments to livestock growers to compensate
them for 2001 or 2002 feed and forage losses, including
an estimated $100 million in additional funding for the
Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) and $250
million for the Livestock Assistance Program;
— $250 million for the Section 32 program, to partially
reimburse the account for funds that were used for the
LCP;
— $70 million for the Farm Service Agency to implement
disaster assistance and ongoing farm commodity
programs;
— $60 million in disaster payments to sugar beet producers
for either 2001 or 2002 crop losses;
— an estimated $60 million in payments to sugarcane
producers and processors for hurricane losses in 2002;
— an estimated $54 million to compensate 2002 tobacco
producers for losses associated with quota reductions,
pests and diseases;
— $50 million for assistance to producers and first
handlers of the 2002 cottonseed crop;

---

CRS-9
— $18.2 million to compensate Florida citrus growers
whose trees were quarantined for citrus canker after
September 30, 2001;
— $15 million for bovine tuberculosis eradication;
— $10 million in assistance to producers along the Rio
Grande, due to failure of Mexico to deliver water under
a current treaty; and
— $2 million to compensate New Mexico farmers for
losses caused by a Forest Service misapplication of
pesticides.
Emergency Wartime
Authorized an estimated $79 billion government-wide, primarily to
Supplemental
cover the costs of military operations in Iraq, relief for Iraq and
Appropriations Act,
Afghanistan, and homeland security protection. Within the total
2003
was $479 million for USDA programs, including:
(P.L. 108-11,
$369 million in additional funding for P.L. 480 Title II foreign
April 16, 2003)
food aid assistance (commodity donations). Of the $369 million,
the act reserved $69 million to partially replenish the Bill Emerson
Humanitarian Trust (a grain reserve used to help fulfill food aid
commitments when supplies are short); and
$110 million for the Agricultural Research Service’s National
Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, to modernize its facilities
and to bolster security in response to potential threats to the
domestic food supply.
Legislative Branch
An emergency provision was attached to the FY2004 legislative
Appropriations Act,
branch appropriations act making available $9.7 million for the
2004,
Tree Assistance Program, exclusively to Michigan, in response to
an outbreak of fire blight (a bacterial tree disease).
(P.L. 108-83,
July 1, 2003)
Consolidated
Title H of this omnibus measure provided $225 million in
Appropriations Act,
emergency USDA assistance exclusively to Southern California in
2004
response to wildfires in the region, including $150 million for the
(P.L. 108-199,
Emergency Watershed Protection Program, $50 million for the
Forest Service for fire management and mitigation activities, $12.5
January 23, 2004)
million for the Tree Assistance Program, $12 million for the
Emergency Conservation Program, and $500,000 for the Livestock
Indemnity Program. All of this emergency spending was offset by
a $225 million rescission from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
Division H also deleted the provision in P.L. 108-7 (see above)
that placed a $3.7 billion limitation on spending for the
Conservation Security Program over 10 years (FY2003-FY2013),
which effectively allows full funding (such sums as necessary) for
the program.

---

CRS-10
Military Construction
Division B of this appropriations act provided a total of $14.5
Appropriations and
billion in supplemental spending in response to a series of four
Emergency Hurricane
late-summer hurricanes that struck the southern U.S., and for
Supplemental
losses associated with a prolonged drought in the western states,
Appropriations Act,
among other disasters. Of the total provided, a CBO-estimated $3.5
2005
billion was for various agricultural programs. A portion of the
(P.L. 108-324, October
agricultural spending was offset by placing a cap on mandatory
13, 2004)
spending for the Conservation Security Program beginning in
FY2008, which is estimated to save $2.86 billion over a multi-year
period.
Included in the $3.5 billion for agriculture was an estimated $2.84
billion that was expected to benefit various regions that
experienced multiple years of drought and a late summer frost. The
balance of $658 million was made available primarily for regions
that were severely affected by the series of 2004 hurricanes and
tropical storms.
Included in the $2.84 billion was an estimated:
— $2.3 billion in direct disaster payments for crop losses
in either 2003 or 2004, but not both years;
— $475 million in Livestock Assistance Program payments
for forage and feed losses in either 2003 or 2004, but
not both; and
— $35 million for the Tree Assistance Program to replant
orchards damaged or destroyed by a disaster.
Note: Prior to enactment of P.L. 108-324, USDA authorized and
implemented a new Florida Hurricane Disaster Assistance
Program to make disaster payments to Florida citrus, vegetable,
and nursery growers using existing USDA funds (estimated at
$500 million). Any producer receiving a payment under this
program is ineligible to receive a crop or tree loss payment under
P.L. 108-324.
Included in the $658 million made available primarily for
additional agricultural hurricane relief was:
— $250 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection
Program to repair waterways and watersheds affected
by any natural disaster;
— $150 million for the Emergency Conservation Program,
to clean up and restore disaster-ravaged farmland;
— a $90 million transfer to the Section 32 program, to
supplement existing funds earmarked by the Secretary
of Agriculture for a disaster payment program
authorized by the Secretary with existing funds, for
Florida citrus, vegetable, and nursery growers;
— $68 million for rural infrastructure through the Rural
Community Advancement Program;
— $40 million for sugarcane losses caused by a 2004
hurricane;
— $18 million for rural housing loans and grants;
— $10 million for dairy production losses and spoilage

---

CRS-11
caused by a 2004 hurricane;
— $10 million for cottonseed producers and first handlers;
— $10 million for private forest landowners;
— $8.5 million for pecan producers; and
— $4 million for additional Farm Service Agency
administrative expenses.
See CRS Report RL32581, Assistance After Hurricanes and Other
Disasters: FY2004 and FY2005 Supplemental Appropriations for
more information.
Emergency
P.L. 109-13 provided $82 billion government-wide primarily for
Supplemental
ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, counter-
Appropriations Act for
terrorism, reconstruction in Afghanistan, and tsunami relief. Of
Defense, the Global
this amount, $344.5 million was for USDA programs, including
War on Terror, and
$240 million for P.L. 480 Title II food aid (mainly for the Darfur
Tsunami Relief, 2005
region of Sudan and other parts of Africa) and $104.5 million for
the emergency watershed protection program.
(P.L. 109-13, May 11,
2005)
Summary of
FY1989: $3.39 billion
FY1998: $160 million
Supplemental
FY1990: $1.48 billion
FY1999: $6.62 billion
Appropriations for
USDA Programs
FY1991: $0
FY2000: $14.78 billion
FY1992: $995 million
FY2001: $11.30 billion
FY1989-FY2005
FY1993: $1.95 billion
FY2002: $579 million
FY1994: $3.08 billion
FY2003: $3.58 billion
FY1995: $600 million
FY2004: $234.7 million
FY1996: $129 million
FY2005: $3.844 billion
FY1997: $513 million
Grand Total, FY1989-FY2005 (to date): $53.2 billion

---