Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue recently visted Capitol Hill where he thanked members of the House Agriculture Committee for helping farmers during a very difficult 2019.

"Spring flooding in the Midwest , continuation of cold wet conditions and then  as you well know experienced and early blizzard," Perdue noted.

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The Ag secretary said despite the bad weather and a tough trade environment.

"Net farm income increased 11.7% from 83 and a half billion to 93 billion, and frankly we've already talked about some of the reason for that  that was the indemnity payments.

"The safety net of crop insurance spent $9.46 billion in indemnity benefits distributed to producers along with the $600 million in prevented plant top off payments," Perdue continued. "An additional $4.5 in ad hoc disaster payments as well for 2018 and 2019 losses, for those caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, snow storms, excessive moisture, wildfires, drought, and almost anything else that can happen on the farm."

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