Insurance Reality for Senator Blanche Lincoln, Ag Chairman!

Senator, the University of Arkansas’s report stating $300 million in crop losses in Arkansas in 2009, due to flooding and poor weather conditions are covered by $930 million in Federal Crop Insurance coverage purchased by Arkansas Farmers for their 2009 crops. Insurance that the U.S. taxpayer paid 79% the insurance premium for your Arkansas Farmers in 2009. While your Farmers are also protected by the SURE disaster program in the 2008 Farm bill, which has another $3.8 billion budget to cover farm losses.

So Arkansas and U.S. taxpayers should be asking you; “why the need for more Farm income support”? When farmers are enjoying the third straight year of record crop prices and continued fixed crop subsidies under the 2008 Farm bill. Including about $90/acre to Arkansas Rice Farmers who USDA data shows had already enjoyed a $450/acre profit from selling their crop in 2008!

Leaving the question, what will you do to address the runaway cost of Federal Crop Insurance that has jumped from Costing the Taxpayer $2.5 in 2005 to $9.2 billion in2008. Which for the 2008 crop will top the traditional farm subsidies debated for over a year in Congress. While quickly consuming two thirds, of the $22 billion budgeted in the 2008 farm bill, to fund the program for five years with three crops still remaining.

So how do you justify giving $79 million to millionaire Arkansas Farmers and $5.4 billion for all American Farmers in 2009 to reduce crop insurance premiums by about 60% nationally? While waffling on Health Insurance for the most needy in Arkansas and America? Alan Roebke (REB-key) Alexandria Minnesota