b"insuranceclaimsarenottypicallysettled is in addition to the $3 billion we secured ear- sets accounted for 51% of the total, up fromuntilharvestiscomplete,squeezingcash lier this year, said Hoeven. We also added 45% in 2018. Round whites were 24% of theflow even further. Bill Northey, USDA's Under provisions to make sure that our sugar pro- total, down from 27% in 2018. Reds, at 20%SecretaryforFarmProductionand ducers are included and to help cover quality, of total stocks, were down from 21% in 2018.Conservation,madetheannouncementat excess moisture and drought losses, which is Long whites and yellows were withheld totheNationalAssociationofFarm helpful for our farmers and ranchers. We not avoid disclosure of individual reports.Broadcasters' conference in Kansas City. onlyhavelowcommoditypricesbutunprecedentedweather.Thedisasterassis- Final ThoughtsUSDA-NASS numbers will12/17/2019 tance and advancing trade agreements will show that 83% of the potato crop in NorthHoeven Secures Additional $1.5 Billion in help to get our producers through this tough Dakotawasharvestedalongwith92%inAg Disaster Funding - North DakotaSenator stretch. Minnesota.Keepinmindthesearestate-JohnHoeven,chairmanoftheSenate wide numbers.As bad as they are, losses wereAgricultureAppropriationsCommittee, Hoeven has been working with USDA to help much higher for many growers in the imme-announced that he has secured an additional producersinNorthDakotaandacrossthe diate Red River Valley. Growers whos families$1.5 billion in disaster funding to help agri- country to recover.thathavemorethanacenturyofpotatoculture producers impacted by severe weath- farming history in the Red River Valley sayer.Thesenatoralsosecuredaprovision 12/20/2019these were the worst harvest conditions ever.requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to make NorthDakotaDecember1PotatoStocksdisasterpaymentstoeligiblesugargrowers Report Reflects Years Losses - North Dakota Looking ahead offers challenges for our pota-andexpandedprogrameligibilitytocover growers,dealers,andprocessorsheld14.0 to growers as well. Spring flooding, a seedquality losses for qualifying crops.millioncwtofpotatoesinstorageon shortage and a continued tough farm econo-December1,accordingtotheUSDA's my top the list of concerns.Lets hope 2020We secured another $1.5 billion in disaster NationalAgriculturalStatisticsService. overcomesthesechallengesandbringsaassistance for our farmers and ranchers in the Currentstocksrepresent67%ofthe2019 great start to the new decade!Agriculture Appropriations bill. This funding production. Comparing stocks by type, rus-8 POTATO GROWER JANUARY 2020"