Thursday, July 21, 2005
Contact: Jessica Robinson, (573) 751-0290
Blunt Requests Drought Assessments for 106 Counties
JEFFERSON CITY— Today, Governor Matt Blunt asked the Missouri Farm Service Agency to begin conducting county damage assessment reports with regards to the drought conditions that persist throughout the state.
"The effects of the drought conditions are impacting Missouri’s agriculture producers," says Gov. Blunt. "It is important to the industry that we do everything we can to assess the situation and provide aid where needed."
In a letter to Tim Kelley, executive director of the Missouri Farm Service Agency, Blunt said that 106 counties have been without significant rainfall and are suffering from the drought. Reports have been received of scorched pastures causing some livestock farmers to begin feeding their winter supply of hay or to sell their animals prematurely due to the lack of forage. In addition, row crops are in desperate need of rainfall and will most likely suffer substantial yield loss without immediate relief.
Blunt has requested damage assessment reports for the following counties: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barry, Bates, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, DeKalb, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howard, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Mississippi, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, New Madrid, Nodaway, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Pettis, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis County, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shannon, Shelby, Stoddard, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Worth and Wright.
Damage assessment reports will show the extent of the drought damage and could make producers eligible for federal financial assistance.
Missouri’s Drought Assessment Committee members have been monitoring the drought situation statewide with recommended actions to prepare for the drought’s adverse effects. For a current drought status map, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/droughtupdate.htm.
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