Crop insurance hits new high WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the 1976 crop year well under way, about $2 billion that farmers have invested in farm crop production are protected by federal crop insurance, Secretary of Agriculture Earl L Butz announced recently. “Although we are still selling 1976 crop insurance for such crops as citrus,” Secretary Butz reported, “this $2 billion of federal crop insurance protection is already the highest in history.” The acreage and number “This is a cooperative WASHINGTON, D.C. - meats - primarily frozen of crops protected by federal program,” Butz said, Secretary of Agriculture beef - are estimated to equal crop insurance have risen “which helps growers take a Earl L. Butz announced or exceed 110 per cent of an sharply this year. An business-like approach to the recently that 1976 imports adjusted base quantity, estimated 22 million acres problem of protecting their subject to the Meat Import quotas are to be unposed on have now been insured capital investments, their Law are estimated below the the imports of these meats, against production cost credit and their community trigger level for quota un- The adjusted base quantity losses from natural hazards, economic strength. When position under the law. for 1976 is 1,120.9 million Butz said. crop damage hits an area, it Secretary Butz said pounds, and the trigger level The $2 billion of protection hurts everyone for miles agreements m principle is 1,233 million pounds. The is a 25 percent increase over around - merchants, have been reached with secretary said 1976 imports last year. equipment dealers, bankers - major exporting countries probably would exceed the Federal crop insurance every business and which will limit imports to trigger level were it not for now protects fanners in 1,467 profession feels the loss. 1,223 million pounds. Formal the expected arrangements counties in 39 states. Federal Federal crop insurance is agreements with par- with supplying countries, crop insurance is a volun- meant to put money back ticipating countries are The secretary said that tary, self-help service into a community when being concluded. import prospects will be permitting farmers to weather, insects or disease Public Law 88-482 enacted reviewed quarterly. The protect their crop in- have wiped out the area’s in August 1964 provides that next estimate of 1976 imports vestment against loss from major source of mcome. if yearly unports of certain of meat subject to the Meat TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC ■:\an (s> a La :