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ND Governor Declares Statewide Ag Drought Emergency
USAgNet - 05/12/2008

With extended dry conditions across the state and little significant rainfall in the forecast, Gov. John Hoeven Friday declared a statewide "early phase agricultural drought emergency."

"We have the potential for continuing dry conditions that could cause real hardship to farmers and ranchers across the state," Hoeven said. "We've had no appreciable precipitation in many areas of the state and this may pose a problem for crop production and for livestock water needs later on this summer."

There was little snowfall cover this winter in many areas of the state, and precipitation this spring has been well below normal, creating abnormally dry conditions. Consequently, livestock water sources, including pasture ponds and dugouts, are dry because they were not replenished by spring runoff. This, coupled with dry conditions, low subsoil moisture levels, high winds and lack of rainfall, will have a detrimental impact on crop and pasture conditions.

The Governor's declaration will allow the implementation of the Livestock Water Assistance Program, a state cost-share program for permanent livestock water supply systems. The Governor has called a special meeting of the North Dakota Water Commission on Wednesday, May 14 to reactivate and fund the program.

The declaration also directs the Agriculture Working Group of the Drought Task Force to convene and directs all state agencies and departments to maintain agricultural drought response resources and capabilities at high levels of readiness to effectively execute the State Emergency Operations Plan.

Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson has called a meeting of the Agriculture Working Group of the Drought Task Force for 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Peace Garden Room of the State Capitol.

"As you know, many areas of North Dakota, especially the western part of the state, are experiencing severe drought," Johnson said in a memorandum to task force members. "Governor Hoeven issued an executive order Friday, officially declaring a statewide early-phase agricultural drought emergency."

Johnson had asked the governor on April 25, to declare a limited drought emergency in order to trigger the State Water Commission's Livestock Water Supply Assistance Program.

Activation of the working group is required by the Procedures for Implementation of Drought Mitigation Measures, adopted in 2002. Authority is provided by the North Dakota Disaster Act of 1985 and the North Dakota Emergency Operations Plan.

The agenda for Wednesday's meeting includes a review of task force objectives, status reports from task force members and discussion on crops, forage, livestock and water conditions, and recommendations.

The Agriculture Working Group, chaired by Johnson, includes representatives from the USDA State Emergency Board, the Atmospheric Resource Board, Federal Crop Insurance Corp., North Dakota Game and Fish Department, North Dakota Department of Transportation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, North Dakota Parks and Recreation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, State Water Commission, the Governor's Office, North Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Emergency Management, U.S. Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota State University Extension Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and USDA Rural Development.