Daschle said that he supports the $7.49 billion short-term economic relief package that was reported out of the Senate Agriculture Committee Wednesday and will bring up the legislation next week. Daschle said this bill provides South Dakota producers with the same level of support they received last year, but that the only way to achieve significant improvements in the farm economy is to write and pass a new Farm Bill that restores a meaningful farm income safety net for farm and ranch families.

"Across the country, and for numerous commodities, poor prices have dogged producers for four years now. Crop prices remain at 25-year lows, farm income is the lowest it's been since 1984, and it now costs more for producers to simply do their job than it ever has before," Daschle said. "It is long past time for Congress to acknowledge the failures of current farm policy. We must restore profitability to the agricultural economy, and the only way to do that is to draft and enact a new farm bill."

"While it's unfortunate that this assistance is necessary, I believe this aid is critical until Congress can write the next farm bill in a way that promotes and supports fair marketplace competition and good stewardship of our land. Farmers want to earn a fair price from the market, but until it improves, this assistance is crucial. I am especially pleased with the level of funding included for important conservation programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, and the Emergency Incentives Program. In light of the current state of the farm economy, what is most important is that our producers get the help that they need," Senator Tim Johnson said.

Daschle said the $5.5 billion short-term economic assistance package the House of Representatives passed last month is not enough, given that the economic conditions in farm country have not improved since last year, when Congress spent over $7 billion on short-term economic assistance. Daschle said he hopes to have the assistance package approved by Congress and on the President's desk before the summer recess.

"The economic assistance in this bill is critically needed in farm country," Daschle said. "We must provide sufficient resources to struggling farmers and ranchers while we rewrite the failed farm bill that has plagued producers since it was enacted."