USDA Designates Seven Montana Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Decision Allows Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for USDA Assistance
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2007 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated seven Montana counties as primary natural disaster areas. Garfield County, Mont., is designated as a primary natural disaster area because of losses caused by hailstorms that occurred from April 1, 2007, through June 30, 2007… (more)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
CONTACT: Sarah Elliott 444-9725
Drought Advisory Committee to Meet Tomorrow
HELENA – The Governor’s Drought Advisory Committee meets Wednesday, September 19 at 9:30 a.m. in the Director’s Conference Room 111 of the Department of Environmental Quality Building at 1520 E. Sixth Avenue, Helena.
In addition to the regular reports provided by the Committee’s agency representatives regarding water supply, moisture conditions, wildfire status, crop yields, impact mitigation, and forecasts, the Committee plans a brief session on the meeting agenda to discuss ways to improve the effectiveness of the Committee in meeting the needs of Montanans.
For those unable to attend the meeting, comments can be sent to Mr. Jesse Aber, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Water Resources Division at 1424 9th Avenue, Helena, 59620-1601 or jaber@mt.gov
The Drought Advisory Committee was formed in 1991 by an act of the Montana Legislature to assist Montanans in coping with the impacts of drought on the economy and natural resources of the state.
NEWS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of Communications News Room 460-A Washington, DC 20250-1300
Internet: News@usda.gov Phone: 202-720-4623
World Wide Web Home Page
Release No. 0201.07
Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178
Keith Williams (202) 720-4623
USDA Expands CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing to Help Livestock Affected by Drought
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2007 – Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced a measure to provide livestock in drought-affected states with needed additional hay and forage. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage eligible for emergency haying and grazing in Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee has been expanded to include land in an area radiating 210 miles out from all counties previously approved for emergency haying and grazing.
"We are closely monitoring the drought and providing assistance when we can," said Johanns. "Emergency haying and grazing is a helpful tool for livestock owners and I'm pleased to make it available to more farmers and ranchers."
CRP is a voluntary program that offers annual rental payments and
cost-
share assistance to establish long-term resource-conserving cover on eligible land. The expansion permits approved CRP participants to cut hay or graze livestock on CRP acreage, providing supplemental forage to producers whose pastures have been negatively affected by drought.
To be approved for emergency haying or grazing, a county must be listed as a level "D3 Drought – Extreme" or greater according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, or have suffered at least a 40 percent loss of normal moisture and forage for the preceding four-month qualifying period. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committees may authorize emergency haying or grazing of CRP land in counties currently listed as level D3 drought CRP participants who want to apply for emergency haying and grazing to their local FSA office must wait until after the nesting season for certain birds.
Only livestock operations located within approved counties are eligible for emergency haying or grazing of CRP acreage. CRP participants who do not own or lease livestock may rent or lease the grazing privilege to an eligible livestock farmer located in an approved county. Producers with CRP acreage that is hayed or grazed will be assessed a 10 percent reduction in their annual rental payment.
Maps relating to this announcement and more information on emergency haying and grazing are available at local FSA offices and online at:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=crp-eg.
USDA offers a number of programs to assist producers affected by drought or other natural disasters. More information is available on FSA's Web site; click on Disaster Assistance Programs.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DNRC and Governor's Drought Committee Urge Water Conservation
With the Governor's Drought Advisory Committee meeting coming up on Thursday, July 19th, conservation officials at Montana's Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) now urge locals to conserve Montana's water in the face of quickening drought conditions.
As rising heat and declining precipitation diminish Montana's water levels, stream flows are falling quickly across the state – resembling typical mid-August levels. Exacerbating this condition, forecasts for coming weeks call for above-normal temperatures and below-average precipitation. These worsening conditions promise hardship for irrigated agriculture, communities, and fisheries.
For this reason, the Governor's Drought Advisory Committee and the DNRC recommend several measures that irrigators, homeowners, and anglers can take to help mitigate water shortages.
Irrigators in many watersheds voluntarily share the shortage of surface water, and others are encouraged to join this effort. "Since irrigation is the largest of our water uses, sacrifices in diverted water make the biggest difference in keeping our streams and rivers alive," explained DNRC Director, Mary Sexton.
Watershed committees have helped this effort, bringing together a range of public interests from irrigators to fishermen to help maintain a minimum stream flow in critical times of drought. Watershed committees in the Big Hole, Jefferson and Blackfoot rivers are already instituting drought plans to protect their rivers. "By being proactive these groups have limited the impact of drought on the river and the economy," Sexton said.
Homeowners also play a role, and can join irrigators in conserving water around the house and in the yard. In many communities, surface water from a local river supplies their municipal water supply. With this in mind, officials urge homeowners to water their grass less to encourage a hardy lawn.
"Folks can water their lawns in the evening and early morning hours, and avoid watering during the heat of the day, when most of the water evaporates," Sexton said, "Watering trees may be more important than grass; a trophy lawn will survive with less water than you would think."
Anglers have an important role as well. To reduce the stress on fish from low flow and high water temperatures, officials recommend several tips for anglers:
– Fish early in the morning when the stream is cool.
– Fish a lake instead of a stream.
– Use barbless hooks, or hook extractors.
– Try to play a hooked fish for as little time as possible before gently releasing it to survive and reproduce.
For water closure updates from Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, anglers can visit: http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/guide/waterclosure.aspx
As over two months remain before the Fall brings cooler weather and more precipitation, water conservation should be foremost in the minds of Montanans – whether in town or at the ranch. In the coming weeks, everyone can play a part in conserving water and can help keep our State' treasured streams and rivers alive and flowing.
The Montana Governor's Drought Advisory Committee will meet in Helena on July 19. Serving as a clearinghouse for drought-related links, tips, updates, and information, the Committee's website is located at: http://drought.mt.gov.
The DNRC's Director, Mary Sexton can be reached for comment at (406) 444-1948.
### DNRC ###
Rob Harper
DNRC Public Affairs Officer
Phone: 406.728.9515
Email: robharper@mt.gov
November 21, 2006
For Immediate Release
For More Information:
Mel Yost
PO Box 670
Bozeman, MT 59771-0670
406/587-6950
24 Counties and 1 Reservation Declared Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Bozeman, MT – The Secretary of Agriculture has designated 24 Montana counties as primary natural disaster areas. The designated counties include: Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Garfield, Golden Valley, Hill, McCone, Phillips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Valley, and Yellowstone and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Under the designation, all qualified producers within the above named counties are eligible for low interest emergency loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). The designation only triggers the Emergency Loan Program, it does not trigger other disaster programs administered by FSA (more) …
Farm Service Agency
Public Affairs Staff
1400 Independence Ave SW
Stop 0506, Room 3624-South
Washington, D.C. 20250-0506
Release No. 1576.06
Latawnya Dia (202) 720-7962
USDA Designates Two Montana Counties Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Decision Allows Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for USDA Assistance
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2006 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated two Montana counties primary natural disaster areas. McCone county was designated a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by the combined effects of ongoing drought, excessive heat, excessive wind and wildfires caused by dry lightning storms that occurred from Jan. 1, 2006, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Dawson, Garfield, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt and Valley counties.
Phillips county was designated a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by the combined effects of ongoing drought, excessive heat, excessive wind, wildfires and hail that occurred from Jan. 1, 2006, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Blaine, Fergus, Garfield, Petroleum and Valley counties.
All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Nov. 2, 2006, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.
USDA has also made other programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Emergency Conservation Program, Federal Crop Insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=diap&topic=landing.
FSA news releases and media advisories are available on FSA’s Web site at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
Livestock Assistance Signup Begins in Seven Counties
HELENA , Mont – Owners of livestock in seven eligible Montana counties have until Nov. 28, 2006 to complete applications for the Livestock Assistance Grant Program announced recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (More… – pdf)
Senate Commerce Committee Approves Drought Information Bill
The Senate Commerce Committee today unanimously approved S. 2751, the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006, sponsored by Sen. Ben Nelson (DNebraska). The bill now awaits consideration by the full Senate. (More… – pdf)
Release No. 0327.06
Contact:
Kristin Scuderi (202) 720-4623
Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178
From USDA.gov
Johanns Focuses USDA Programs to Aid Drought Regions
Aid Includes $780 Million in New, Unused and Accelerated Funding
HAYES, South Dakota, Aug. 29, 2006 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced during a visit to South Dakota $780 million in assistance to help farmers and ranchers manage drought and weather related production challenges. This funding includes a new $50 million program for livestock producers impacted by drought, focusing nearly $30 million in unused conservation funds on drought, and accelerating the delivery of an estimated $700 million in counter-cyclical payments.
"While some parts of the country are experiencing very good crop conditions, drought is taking a toll on farming and ranching operations in other areas of the United States this year," said Johanns. "Today's actions emphasize USDA's commitment to use every resource available to help farmers and ranchers who are impacted by drought."
Livestock Assistance
The new $50 million program for livestock producers, called the Livestock Assistance Grant Program, will provide $50 million in Section 32 to states in block grant form. States will distribute to livestock producers in counties that were designated as D3 or D4 on the Drought Monitor anytime between March 7 and August 31, 2006. The grants will help livestock producers restore their purchasing power. A list of eligibility criteria and eligible counties can be found at http://www.usda.gov by clicking on the drought spotlight.
Conservation Funds
The nearly $30 million in unused conservation funds includes almost $19 million in unused Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funds and $11 million in unused Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). The ECP funds will go to 27 states. Information on eligibility and a list of the states and funding is also posted online. The GRP funds will help to protect drought-affected grazing lands. The funds will be distributed to 14 states. These funds will be focused on pending GRP applications for rental agreements in drought-affected areas.
Johanns also directed the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state conservationists to work with their producers and state technical committees to focus remaining FY 2006 and a portion of FY 2007 conservation program funds on resource conservation practices related to drought response and mitigation. Programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program, and GRP have built-in flexibility and local decision-making ability in order to encourage a focus on state-specific concerns, such as those related to drought.
Counter-Cyclical Payments
Johanns directed that 2005-crop year counter-cyclical payments be delivered as quickly as possible to expand the financial resources of farmers facing drought.
An estimated $700 million in payments to upland cotton and grain sorghum producers will be made this week. This will constitute the earliest delivery of counter-cyclical payments on record. Payments to peanut producers will also be expedited, following the calculation of the final 2005 average price.
Existing USDA Disaster Assistance
As always, emergency loans are available to help producers in counties declared disaster areas. These low-interest loans are for producers who have suffered production or physical losses resulting from a natural disaster or quarantine in counties designated disaster areas by President Bush, or disaster or quarantine areas by Secretary Johanns.
Prior to this announcement, USDA has allocated over $30 million in emergency conservation program and emergency watershed protection program funds for 2006 disasters, including drought. The agency has released considerable Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage to emergency haying and grazing and lowered the rental rate reduction to 10 percent from 25 percent.
Federal crop insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) are also available to crop producers each year to help mitigate the risks associated with the adverse affects of heat and drought. Producers enrolled a record-high 246 million acres in crop insurance in 2005, with nearly 90 percent of acres insured at levels above the minimum catastrophic level of coverage. Similar enrollment levels are expected this year. In addition, NAP is available for producers who grow crops for which crop insurance is not available.
More information about today's drought assistance package and existing USDA disaster assistance is available at http://www.usda.gov
For Immediate Release
September 15, 2006
Contact: Sarah Elliott, (406) 444-9725
or Andy Gray, (406) 444-3730
Livestock Assistance Headed for Seven Montana Counties
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Agriculture will administer $933,443 in federal drought assistance to livestock producers who suffered forage production losses in seven counties of south-central and southeastern Montana, Governor Brian Schweitzer announced Friday.
"This assistance is badly needed in areas where ranchers face the possibility of having to drastically reduce their foundation herds if they can't purchase feed to sustain animals through the fall and winter," Schweitzer said.
The department intends to work with the Montana State University Extension Service to sign up affected producers from October 16 to November 28, 2006, in an effort to make checks available by the end of December, said Nancy K. Peterson, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture. Details will be announced before the start of the sign-up period.
Eligible counties in Montana are Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River and Rosebud.
The funding is part of $50 million in block grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture made available for drought-stricken counties in 20 states. The USDA said in a letter to Governor Schweitzer that county eligibility was determined using U.S. Drought Monitor maps, which are prepared at the National Drought Mitigation Center in Nebraska.
"We agreed to take on the task of administering the grants, using federal guidelines, because it is the fastest way to get the assistance to eligible producers," Director Peterson said.
The Montana Department of Agriculture is working with the Governor's Office, the Montana State University Extension Service and the USDA Farm Service Agency to establish criteria and methods for the sign up and distribution.
Details will be available by early October at MSU Extension Service offices in the seven counties and at tribal extension offices on reservations in the affected counties. Information from the Montana Department of Agriculture can be obtained from Andy Gray, commodity section program manager, at (406) 444-3730 or by email at agr@mt.gov.
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