News Releases for July 2006
July 3, 2006
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Hoeven Preparing Request For Secretarial Disaster Declaration From USDA, Tours Drought Affected Area
Governor, Delegation, Ag Commissioner Meet With Farmers And Ranchers
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today said his office is preparing a request to the State Farm Service Agency to initiate drought damage assessment reports at the earliest possible date. The Move is preparatory to requesting a secretarial disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Should conditions prevail as projected by the National Weather Service, the request for the secretarial disaster declaration could be made as early as next week.
The Governor, along with the state’s congressional delegation and agriculture commissioner, also met with farmers and ranchers at the Leon Malard Farm southeast of Bismarck to discuss additional measures that can be taken immediately to relieve the impact of dry conditions.
“Producers are already feeling the affects of dry weather, so we want to take early action to help our farmers and ranchers,” Hoeven said. “At the same time, these short term measures illustrate the need for a comprehensive and adequate crop insurance program in the next farm bill, which we will continue to work toward.”
Hoeven was in Washington, D.C. earlier this spring to lobby for disaster assistance and for inclusion of an expanded crop insurance program in the next version of the federal farm bill, which will be introduced in 2007.
Last week, Hoeven took steps to address the dry conditions that continue to develop in south central and southwestern portions of North Dakota, and that have seriously affected the agricultural industry and related service providers.
- Declared Agriculture Drought Emergency: First, Hoeven issued an executive order 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.
- Requested 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.
- Reactivated 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.
- Activated 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.
- Declared Fire Emergency: Fifth, in a related drought action, Hoeven declared a rural fire emergency. The executive order applies statewide, but according to the county by county fire danger index, restrictions apply only to counties in either the “Very High” or “Extreme” fire danger categories. Currently, that is south central and southwestern North Dakota, but may change based on conditions.
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.
Hoeven announced last week’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.
Staff from the Governor’s Office and the N.D. Department of Emergency Services’ Division of Homeland Security (NDDES) continue to work with 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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