USAgNet.com - National/World News - ND Drought Task Force Urges Water Program Activation

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ND Drought Task Force Urges Water Program Activation
USAgNet - 05/15/2008

The North Dakota State Water Commission voted Wednesday, to put $1 million into the Livestock Water Supply Assistance Program. The action followed a drought advisory panel's recommendation that the commission immediately implement the program to help producers get water for their livestock.

"The Livestock Water Supply Assistance Program offers financial assistance for producers to improve water systems in pastures or to bring water to grazing areas," said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, who chaired the meeting of the Agricultural Task Force, created under the state's Drought Mitigation Plan, and who moved for the $1 million appropriation.

The meeting of the task force was the first for the group since Governor John Hoeven declared an early-phase agricultural drought emergency last Friday.

Johnson said the task force was in agreement that water for livestock was the most pressing concern caused by the drought.

"We are still hoping for rain to relieve conditions for crops and pasture," he said. "Unless we get that precipitation, the task force will be dealing with many more drought-related issues."

The task force heard reports on availability of federal funds, mowing and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program lands, the fire danger caused by the drought and the situation at reservoirs controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Agricultural Task Force 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, USDA Rural Development and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.