Grassley says farm bill is on the way

Senator Charles Grassley says the U-S Senate and House will approve anemergency aid package for farmers by mid-week. Grassley says the deal’s been struck by House/Senate negotiators and theseven-point-six Billion dollars should be in the hands of farmers by month’send. Grassley says farmers may not believe the package is big enough.Much of the emergency federal help goes to grain farmers by doubling the”Agriculture Market Transition” payments, which are forwarded to allfarmers, regardless of income or need. President Clinton and others havecalled for re-doing the payment system to give the aid to small- andmedium-sized family farmers, but Grassley says that would take too long.Grassley says the emergency aid package should be approved by theHouse/Senate negotiators tonight and by the full House and Senate tomorrow.