News Releases for June 2006
June 28, 2006
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven Declares Agricultural Drought Emergency
Governor Takes Steps To Address Growing Dry Conditions
Drought Emergency Declaration 
(93kb pdf)
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today took steps in response to dry conditions that continue to develop in south central portions of North Dakota and that have seriously affected the agricultural industry and related service providers.
- Declare Agriculture Drought Emergency: First, Hoeven issued an executive order (attached)
declaring a drought disaster emergency, which triggers the State Water Commission's (SWC) Livestock Water Supply
Assistance Program to help with the cost of creating permanent water supplies for cattle. The cost-share program
assists producers with the expense of drilling wells, laying pipe, and other actions to secure reliable water supplies
for cattle. The SWC today allocated $200,000 for the program.
- "High temperatures and lack of precipitation are taking a toll on our farmers
and ranchers, as well as on businesses that depend on the agriculture community," Hoeven said. "The steps
we've taken will provide help with the cost of creating reliable water supplies and grazing and hay for
cattle."
- Request Opening of CRP Acres: Second, Hoeven asked the State Farm Service Agency and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service to request authorization from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to open Conservation
Reserve Program acres to haying and grazing operations.
- "With continued hot, dry conditions, we ask for immediate consideration to make
this formal recommendation," Hoeven wrote. "This measure can help to provide some relief to agriculture
producers who are struggling to acquire enough feed to maintain their livestock."
- Reactivate Bank of North Dakota Programs: Third, the Governor has asked officials of the Bank of
North Dakota to begin the process of extending the Farm Disaster Relief Program, and reinstitute the Business Disaster
Relief Program. Both programs are designed to help producers and businesses affected by the disaster restructure loans
at favorable rates.
- Activate Agriculture Working Group: Fourth, Hoeven's executive order activates Agriculture
Working Group of the Drought Task Force within the State Emergency Operations Plan. The working group, along with the
Division of Emergency Services, will coordinate resources and recommend appropriate state and federal actions.
- The most critically dry areas are Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, Logan, McIntosh,
Morton and Sioux counties, but the executive order applies to all counties as a precaution against growing drought
conditions in other counties.
- "We're concerned about producers in drought affected areas, and we're
working to help them," Hoeven said.
- Hoeven announced today's actions following assessments of current and forecast
drought conditions within the state, along with reports submitted by the State Water Commission (SWC), N.D. Department
of Emergency Services (NDDES) and the N.D. Department of Agriculture.
- "Conditions in these areas of the state are extremely dry," said State
Homeland Security Director Greg Wilz. "The impacts to agriculture producers will cause a ripple effect to our
state's agricultural industry, as well as the general economy of our state, unless provisions can be made to
mitigate damages."
- Staff from the Governor's Office and the N.D. Department of Emergency Services' Division of Homeland Security (NDDES) continue to review reports from county emergency managers, Farm Service Agency (FSA), as well as weather, fire danger, and agricultural data provided by other federal, state and local officials, to determine if U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretarial action should be pursued.
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