Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson or Jessica Robinson, (573) 751-0290
Blunt Requests Drought Assessments in Preparation for Disaster Declaration
JEFFERSON CITY—Gov. Matt Blunt today asked the Missouri Farm Service Agency to conduct damage assessment reports for eight counties to determine the severity of the drought in preparation for a secretarial disaster declaration.
Blunt has requested damage assessment reports for the following counties: Barton, Cass, Clay, Jackson, Jasper, McDonald, Newton, and Platte. The reports will detail the extent of the damage, which could make agriculture producers eligible for federal financial assistance.
In a letter to Tim Kelley, executive director of the Missouri Farm Service Agency, Blunt said that Missouri’s agriculture producers are feeling the effects of the severe drought conditions that continue to persist throughout Missouri. Reports continue to be received detailing scorched pastures which has caused some livestock farmers to begin utilizing their winter food supply or selling livestock prematurely due to lack of forage. Row crops are likely to suffer substantial yield loss due to lack of rain.
Today’s request is a follow-up to a July 21 request for damage assessment reports in the first 106 counties to be identified as drought-stricken. To view a current statewide map of the drought status, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/droughtupdate.htm.
###