News Release
Governor Praises Decision to Release Drought Funding
9/20/2002
Ron Zellar
406-444-3144
rzellar@state.mt.us
"We really appreciate Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman's responsiveness in designing a program that will provide cash assistance now for Montana's beleaguered livestock producers," Martz said. "Administering the program on the basis of previous disaster declarations and distributing the money quickly, starting Oct. 1, should help Montana stem the tide of losses in livestock numbers in our state."
“In this four-year drought period, some Montana livestock producers have been forced to sell down their herds because of the lack of feed and water,” said Marc Bridges, executive officer for the Montana Department of Livestock. “The funding released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help ensure that producers can maintain the their herds while working through this drought period.”
Signups for the program are scheduled to begin Oct. 1 at USDA offices throughout Montana. At a news conference, Secretary Veneman said the program will operate with a minimum of paperwork, requiring that ranchers in the affected counties certify the number animals they had held for at least 90 days, beginning on June 1.
All counties in seven states, including Montana, have been declared disaster areas for 2002. Veneman said the program also will be available to producers in drought-designated counties for 2001. Funding comes from the Foreign Agricultural Service's Section 32 fund, which is raised through customs fees on imports.
Governor Martz had joined Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Montana, in requesting revisions when Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced a feed assistance program for four states on Aug. 12, 2002. The initial $150 million authorization applied only to states that had more than 75 percent of their pasture and range crops in "poor" or "very poor" condition.
Martz said she also remains committed to securing natural disaster assistance for 2001 and 2002 for drought-affected farmers and ranchers. She wrote letters to congressional leaders and to members of the Western Governors Association on Sept. 5, 2002, urging support for the $6 billion in disaster aid that has been approved by the Senate.
Parts of Montana received additional moisture this summer, but the latest crop weather report from the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service indicates disappointing crop yields and poor pasture conditions in much of the state. The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to show "extreme" or "severe" drought in the southcentral one-third of Montana counties.
"Livestock producers need help now going into the fall and winter months. The Bush administration has responded and we appreciate their efforts," Martz said.
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