News Releases for July 2006
July 11, 2006
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Hoeven: USDA Opens CRP Acres To Grazing And Haying In Nine Counties, Governor Urges Statewide Opening
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved his request to open Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to grazing immediately, and to haying effective July 15. Eligible counties include Pierce, Kidder, McHenry, Emmons, Grant, Sioux, Morton, Burleigh and McIntosh. Today’s announcement follows a letter Hoeven sent last week to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns pressing him for an early opening of CRP lands, and spoke with the secretary’s office this morning.
“The need is clear and urgent,” Hoeven said. “We have persuaded the authorities to open the affected counties to haying as well as grazing. Now, they need to open the rest of the state to help farmers and ranchers in the affected areas. The earlier opening of CRP for haying in the nine counties means that some producers will be able to salvage the feed value of that hay, but others will still need additional access.”
On June 28, Hoeven issued a statewide drought emergency declaration in response to dry conditions in the state.
In addition to asking Johanns to support disaster assistance legislation, Hoeven is also asking western governors from other drought-affected states to sign on to a letter asking Congress and the Administration to provide disaster assistance to farmers and ranchers in distressed regions.
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