Rick Gion's News from Headquarters
President Bush is trying to stick it to the farmers of North Dakota again.
This time he’s threatened to veto $175 million in emergency disaster aid to our producers. A member of the Republican leadership in the House has also derided the aid.
To combat this nonsense, Sen. Byron Dorgan has started a petition to show these Republicans that North Dakota’s farmers should not be left out in the cold. The Democratic-NPL Party is encouraging you all to click here or go to Sen. Dorgan’s Web site, www.dorgan.senate.gov, to sign the petition. You can also sign up by calling 1- 800-666-4482.
In an editorial from Saturday in the Jamestown Sun, Sen. Dorgan made a very strong case regarding the necessity of receiving the aid.
“Last spring, heavy rains left more than 1 million acres too wet to plant. Another 1 million acres that were planted were later drowned out by more rain. I’ve talked to producers who spent tens of thousands of dollars planting their fields, only to see half their crop washed away in a few days of uncommonly heavy rain.”
“But weather wasn’t the only disaster. Sky-rocketing energy and fertilizer costs hit family farmers - heavy users of both - especially hard. They cost the average North Dakota farm family $18,000 more last year and caused farm income across the state to plummet. One NDSU study says average farm incomes dropped 75 percent last year because of higher energy costs alone!”
Also, in a press release from last Friday, Sen. Dorgan had this to say:
“We’re not going to stop pushing for this. After years of massive tax cuts that primarily benefited the very wealthy, it’s hard to understand why the President would oppose help that will mean the difference between economic survival and bankruptcy for thousands in rural America.”
Those are some strong words, and rightfully so. The economy of our state depends on a healthy economic atmosphere for farmers. We produce six of the top ten seed crops in the country. That obviously doesn’t include the huge sugar beet crop in the Red River Valley. High energy and fertilizer prices have drastically reduced farm income. Click here to check it out for yourself. It’s the study Sen. Dorgan discussed in his editorial. After reading that, it seems absolutely outrageous that President Bush does not want to help our farmers.
Thank goodness for Sens. Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy for their continuous fight for our farmers in Washington, D.C. They are true champions for our state's producers.
This time he’s threatened to veto $175 million in emergency disaster aid to our producers. A member of the Republican leadership in the House has also derided the aid.
To combat this nonsense, Sen. Byron Dorgan has started a petition to show these Republicans that North Dakota’s farmers should not be left out in the cold. The Democratic-NPL Party is encouraging you all to click here or go to Sen. Dorgan’s Web site, www.dorgan.senate.gov, to sign the petition. You can also sign up by calling 1- 800-666-4482.
In an editorial from Saturday in the Jamestown Sun, Sen. Dorgan made a very strong case regarding the necessity of receiving the aid.
“Last spring, heavy rains left more than 1 million acres too wet to plant. Another 1 million acres that were planted were later drowned out by more rain. I’ve talked to producers who spent tens of thousands of dollars planting their fields, only to see half their crop washed away in a few days of uncommonly heavy rain.”
“But weather wasn’t the only disaster. Sky-rocketing energy and fertilizer costs hit family farmers - heavy users of both - especially hard. They cost the average North Dakota farm family $18,000 more last year and caused farm income across the state to plummet. One NDSU study says average farm incomes dropped 75 percent last year because of higher energy costs alone!”
Also, in a press release from last Friday, Sen. Dorgan had this to say:
“We’re not going to stop pushing for this. After years of massive tax cuts that primarily benefited the very wealthy, it’s hard to understand why the President would oppose help that will mean the difference between economic survival and bankruptcy for thousands in rural America.”
Those are some strong words, and rightfully so. The economy of our state depends on a healthy economic atmosphere for farmers. We produce six of the top ten seed crops in the country. That obviously doesn’t include the huge sugar beet crop in the Red River Valley. High energy and fertilizer prices have drastically reduced farm income. Click here to check it out for yourself. It’s the study Sen. Dorgan discussed in his editorial. After reading that, it seems absolutely outrageous that President Bush does not want to help our farmers.
Thank goodness for Sens. Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy for their continuous fight for our farmers in Washington, D.C. They are true champions for our state's producers.
posted by Dem-NPL at 10:50 AM
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