News Releases for July 2006
July 13, 2006
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Hoeven: USDA To Open CRP Acres Statewide To Haying July 15 For Producers From Drought Counties
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will open Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres statewide for haying and grazing to producers from drought counties. Currently 11 and one half counties have been declared drought counties by the Farm Service Agency. Producers from those counties may make arrangements to cut hay for their livestock statewide.
The USDA announced on July 11 it would open 11 and one half counties for grazing immediately and for haying on July15. In addition, Benson, Nelson and Sheridan counties are expected to be approved shortly by meeting the 40 percent deviation from normal precipitation threshold.
The news came in a phone call to Hoeven from U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner. Hoeven has been in regular contact with agency officials to push for the opening as soon as possible so that ranchers can manage their livestock.
Hoeven also indicated that USDA is likely to make a CP-23 acres available for haying after August 1.
“This is good news,” Hoeven said. “Our ranchers now need to work with the USDA’s Farm Service Agency in North Dakota and landowners before the weekend to arrange to get feed. The USDA will open the acreage to producers in drought affected counties.”
“I strongly encourage landowners who have CRP acreage to make the hay available to livestock owners in the drought counties,” Hoeven said. “We need to coordinate carefully to ensure we get the most benefit from the resource in timely fashion.”
The Governor declared an Agricultural Drought Disaster on June 28, 2006. Additional steps the Governor has taken to assist affected farmers and ranchers include the following:
- Declared Agriculture Drought Emergency: Declared a drought disaster emergency, which triggers the State Water Commission’s Livestock Water Supply Assistance Program to help with the cost of creating permanent water supplies for cattle.
- Reactivated Bank of North Dakota Programs: 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.
- CRP Land: Requested Sec. Johanns open CRP land, including CP-23 areas statewide.
- Emergency Conservation Program: Requested that Sec. Johanns reallocate Emergency Conservation Program funds for qualifying counties in North Dakota.
- DARs: Requested USDA Farm Service Agency to complete Damage Assessment Reports as soon as feasible.
- Activated Agriculture Working Group: Activated Agriculture Working Group of the Drought Task Force within the State Emergency Operations Plan.
- Declared 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.
- Opened Former No-Mow Areas: Directed DOT to open former no-mow acres to haying – approximately 8,200 acres.
- Adjusted Road Load Limits: Directed DOT to adjust road load limits and width and length restrictions to accommodate the transportation of hay to drought areas.
- Open Public Lands to Haying: Ensured that North Dakota Parks and Recreation, Game & Fish, and Land Management Departments to identify and make available public lands to haying for drought affected producers. (They do this annually.)
- Enlisted Support of Regional Governors: Organized a request to Congress by the Western Governors Association and the Midwestern Governors Association to support disaster funding legislation.
Producers are reminded that the Extension Service maintains an ongoing Extension FeedList to connect ranchers in need of hay with producers who have available feed.
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