94TH CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session

FARMER-TO-CONSUMER DIRECT MARKETING ACT OF

1976

SEPTEMBER 13, 1976.-Ordered to be printed

Mr. VIGORITO, from the committee of conference,
submitted the following

CONFERENCE REPORT

[To accompany H.R. 10339]

The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 10339) to encourage the direct marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers to consumers, having met, after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows:

That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 1.

Amendment numbered 2:

That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 2, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows:

On page 1, lines 4 and 5 of the Senate engrossed amendments, strike out "September 30, 1978, and September 30, 1979" and insert in lieu thereof and September 30, 1978

And the Senate agree to the same.

Amendment numbered 3:

That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 3 and agree to the same with an amendment, as

follows:

In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate amendment, insert the following:

EMERGENCY HAY PROGRAM

SEC. 8. In carrying out any emergency hay program for farmers or ranchers in any area of the United States under section 305 of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 because of an emergency or major disaster in such area, the President shall direct the Secretary of Agriculture to pay 80 percent of the cost of transporting hay (not to exceed $50

57-006 O

per ton) from areas in which hay is in plentiful supply to the area in which such farmers or ranchers are located. The provisions of this section shall expire on October 1, 1977.

And the Senate agree to the same.

JOSEPH P. VIGORITO,
BOB BERGLAND,

GEORGE E. BROWN, Jr.,
FREDERICK W. RICHMOND,
PAUL FINDLEY,

JAMES P. JOHNSON,

Managers on the Part of the House.

HERMAN E. TALMADGE,

GEORGE MCGOVERN,

HUBERT HUMPHREY,

WALTER D. HUDDLESTON,

DICK CLARK,

ROBERT DOLE,

MILTON R. YOUNG,

HENRY BELLMON,

Managers on the Part of the Senate.

JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE

COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 10339) to encourage the direct marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers to consumers, submit the following joint statement to the House and the Senate in explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon by the managers and recommended in the accompanying conference report:

(1) Short title (Amdt. No. 1).

The Senate amendment amends the short title of the House bill to reflect the present calendar year.

The Committee of Conference adopted the Senate amendment. (2) Authorization of appropriations (Amdt. No. 2).

The House bill authorizes appropriations for technical assistance in implementing the direct marketing program for only the 1977 fiscal year.

The Senate amendment extends the authorization for appropriations through the 1979 fiscal year.

The Committee of Conference agreed to an authorization of appropriations through the 1978 fiscal year.

(3) Emergency hay program (Amdt. No. 3).

The Senate amendment adds a new section which requires the President-in carrying out any emergency hay program under section 305 of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974-to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, at the option of the farmers and ranchers, to either

(a) purchase hay in areas where it is plentiful, transport it into the area where the farmers or ranchers are located, and sell it to them at no more than $40 a ton; or

(b) pay the costs of transporting a farmer's or rancher's cattle from the emergency area to a location where adequate grazing land is available and then back to the stricken area within a reasonable time after grazing conditions there have improved sufficiently to support the cattle. No farmer or rancher would be prohibited from selling or otherwise disposing of livestock after they have been transported outside the emergency area; however, if he does so, no return transportation payment will be made. The new section added by the Senate amendment also provides that

(i) hay is to be made available under section 305 of the Disaster Relief Act to help farmers and ranchers maintain their cattle herds during any period such assistance is needed as the result of an emergency or major disaster (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Disaster Relief Act. Prior to a determination by the President that such a situation exists, a request must be made by the Governor of the affected State);