Congressman Tom Latham has been named to the group which will review theemergency farm aid package and strike a compromise. Latham, a member of theso-called “conference committee,” says a number of details are still up inthe air.Latham says his main goal is to get the deal struck quickly, so farmers knowhow much they’ll get — and when they’ll get it.However, Senator Tom Harkin is among those who favor a new system ofdistributing the money to ensure it goes to small and medium-sized farmers. Harkin says the money is distributed based on ag production over 10 years –which means farmers who didn’t even plant a crop this year could get apayment.Latham says there ARE limits on how much an individual farmer may receive.The Senate-passed plan called for seven-and-a-half Billion dollars inemergency aid for farmers. Latham believes the package may total up to nineBillion dollars when work’s completed.Latham, a republican from Alexander, will attend a farm crisis hearing thisweekend at the Kansas State Fair. U-S Ag Secretary Dan Glickman, a formerKansas Congressman, will be there.
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