|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, July 7, 2006
CONTACT: Mark Johnston or Roxy Everson (605) 773-3212
Drought Assistance Approved for 20 South Dakota Counties
Pierre, SD – Following a request from Governor Mike Rounds, the US
Department of Agriculture has made a drought disaster declaration for 20
South Dakota Counties.
The declaration allows farmers and ranchers in those twenty counties to hay
and graze their Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres starting July 15,
2006. It also allows ranchers to graze their CP-23 (wetland restoration)
acres July 15, 2006.
Counties included in the drought disaster declaration are Beadle, Campbell,
Corson, Dewey, Edmunds, Faulk, Hand, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Jones, Lyman,
McPherson, Perkins, Potter, Sanborn, Stanley, Sully, Walworth, and Ziebach.
“Many of the counties included in the disaster declaration are in their
seventh consecutive year of drought. The state can’t make up for the lack of
rain, but early haying and grazing is one area we have the power to provide
relief,” said Governor Mike Rounds. “Hopefully the early haying and grazing
will allow producers to be able to feed and keep their livestock.”
Producers in those counties should meet with their local Farm Service Agency
to get the necessary paperwork before haying or grazing any CRP or CP-23
land.
The state is also helping the relief effort by allowing farmers and ranchers
to mow the right-of-ways along state highways earlier than normal. Governor
Rounds is also waiving permit fees for the transportation of baled livestock
feed and expanding the hours over width loads are allowed to travel on state
highways and the interstate system.
Additionally the state has activated its feed finder hotline. This helps
connect people who are looking for feed with those who have feed available.
The hotline can be accessed by calling 1-800-228-5254 or online at
http://www.state.sd.us/doa .
|
Gov. Rounds Requests USDA
Drought Assistance for 23 Counties
PIERRE, SD – Gov. Mike Rounds has requested a US
Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretarial drought disaster declaration
for 23 South Dakota Counties. Many areas in South Dakota are in their
seventh consecutive year of drought. Counties are reporting shortages of
livestock forage due to significantly below normal precipitation and
inadequate soil moisture. This prolonged drought has left dams and dugouts
dry and has forced producers to begin reducing their livestock herds.
More
Johanns issues disaster
declaration for 24 S.D. counties
FROM WIRE REPORTS
August 1, 2006
U.S. Agriculture
Secretary Mike Johanns has issued a disaster declaration for 24 South
Dakota counties because of drought and other weather-related losses.
More
Last Updated: 8/2/2006 |
