P.L. 105-277 (October 21, 1998), among its numerous provisions that include the regular annual appropriations for most USDA programs, provided $5.9 billion in emergency spending for USDA programs to shore up farm income and to compensate farmers for natural disasters. More than one-half of this amount ($3.1 billion) was in the form of direct "market loss" payments to grain, cotton, and dairy farmers for income assistance. Most of the $2.4 billion balance was in the form of disaster payments made to farmers who experienced large crop losses in either 1998 or in 3 of the 5 years between 1994 through 1998.