News Releases for November 2002
November 14, 2002
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven, Dalrymple Push North Dakota Ag Agenda, Disaster Aid
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven and Lt. Governor Jack Dalrymple today pressed North Dakota’s agriculture agenda and disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers on two fronts: Hoeven in rural North Dakota and Dalrymple in Washington, D.C.
Hoeven met in Scranton with farmers, ranchers, livestock producers and business owners from Adams, Bowman and Slope Counties to discuss the effects of drought in the region. The Governor told the group he is looking for solutions and ways that the state and federal government can assist producers throughout North Dakota with both drought and flood relief.
“Between wildfires and drought, farmers and ranchers in North Dakota have endured a very tough period,” Hoeven said. “We are working hard to find meaningful solutions and relief to help them through these difficult times.”
The Governor was also on hand to greet Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Director David Maurstad, who was in Scranton for a ceremony to award a FEMA grant to purchase needed equipment. Scranton is one of 30 North Dakota fire departments to receive FEMA grants in recent weeks. The ceremony was also attended by state Division of Emergency Management Director Doug Friez.
At Hoeven’s request, Dalrymple met today and Wednesday in Washington, D.C. with top U.S. House Agriculture Committee directors and key Senate Agriculture Committee members to push for disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers. Dalrymple met with Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) to discuss federal disaster aid for producers in the hard-hit Upper Midwest. The Lt. Governor and the senators and their staffs discussed potential congressional legislation for farm relief in the wake of this summer’s severe drought and flooding. Other topics of discussion were oilseed loan rates and crop harmonization.
On Wednesday Dalrymple also met with U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary James Moseley to press for Administration support for a farm disaster aid package and revised oil seed loan rates. Dalrymple pushed for a disaster program using new money, or money that was saved by the federal government because the new farm bill’s counter-cyclical payment plan has been successful.
“I had productive discussions with both Secretary Moseley and Senators Roberts and Burns about potential disaster assistance for producers,” Dalrymple said. “There is room for optimism on all of our issues. On balance, we’re hopeful that the new environment in Congress will be a positive for the things we’re trying to accomplish.”
Dalrymple said he and the officials discussed future meetings with Hoeven to explore strategies that will move the state’s agriculture agenda forward.
“It’s important to keep the lines of communication open, and to solidify our relationship with both the White House and the leadership in Congress to move our priorities forward,” Hoeven said. “We will continue our effort to be a productive influence in shaping national farm policy on behalf of North Dakota.”
E-mail comments to the Governor
