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(AP) - Farm-state senators are increasing their
request for drought relief dollars by half, saying the nation's
farmers now need an estimated $6 billion or more in assistance.

      Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have been pushing a
package that included $4 billion to help farmers and ranchers
weather a devastating drought that has set records in many parts of
the country. 

One version of that package stalled earlier this year
as House Republicans and the White House said it was too expensive
and would unfairly distribute the money.

      Since then, says Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota,
conditions have worsened. 

Along with Republican Sen. Norm Coleman
of Minnesota and 10 other senators, Conrad introduced a bill
Wednesday asking for additional help. The bill is expected to
exceed $6 billion and covers losses from both 2005 and 2006.

      Conrad said the senators will try to attach the package to one
of a few bills before the November election, when voters in
hard-hit states may have drought on their minds. But he
acknowledged that will be difficult with few legislative days left
before Congress adjourns.

      A separate disaster package worth $4 billion is pending as part
of an agriculture spending bill. But members of Republican
leadership have not targeted that bill as a priority before the
election.

      White House spokesman Alex Conant said Wednesday that the
administration still opposes the congressional disaster funding.

Last week, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns promised to provide
$79 million in relief funds, including $50 million for livestock
producers, and accelerate $700 million in planned payments to
cotton, grain sorghum and peanut farmers.

      Farm-state members have said that's not enough.

      "That's just shifting deck chairs on the Titanic," Conrad
said.

      Johanns has said he wants to wait for the harvest of this year's
crops before deciding whether to give out more money.

      Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., one of the bill's co-sponsors, said
the bill needs President Bush's approval to succeed.

      "There are huge swatches of our state that could face
depopulation because of a drought that is one of the worst since
the Dust Bowl," he said.

      The bill also provides money for flooding and other
weather-related agricultural disasters. 

It would provide $300
million in grants for small businesses that have been directly
affected by weather, and Conrad said it would also give assistance
to farmers affected by Tropical Storm Ernesto, which caused
flooding in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.

      "When a community or an industry is impacted by a natural
disaster such as a hurricane or tornado, we extend a helping
hand," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., another co-sponsor.
"Agriculture should be not be different."

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Farm-state senators are increasing their
request for drought relief dollars by half, saying the nation's
farmers now need an estimated $6 billion or more in assistance.


Farm state senators press for $6 billion in drought aid

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