Caledonia Argus

Federal disaster relief sought for drought

Posted: 9/9/03

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

State officials are seeking federal disaster relief for Minnesota counties parched by drought.

Some 49 of the stateís 87 counties will be requested by state officials as federal agricultural disaster areas, according to the administration.

ìA month ago we were looking at a good crop year and now weíre looking at more than a billion dollars in economic loss,î said Gov. Pawlenty.

Dakota, Sherburne, and Washington counties number among the counties named for designation.

In a preliminary assessment of Minnesota counties by the USDA Farm Service Agency, found that 95 percent of Minnesota farmland has been impacted by drought.

Only 33 percent of the corn crop is judged in good to excellent condition ó down 42 percent from the week before, according to federal statistics.

The stateís soybean crop shows similar a loss of heartiness.

The number of counties eligible for agricultural disaster relief may climb, said Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson, speaking on Gov. Pawlentyís weekly radio show Friday, Sept. 5.

Crop damage caused by the drought is currently estimated at $1 billion.

This is about a 29 percent loss in value compared to last year.

Once the secretary of agriculture declares Minnesota counties disaster areas, farmers will immediately become eligible for low interest loans and other federal assistance, said Hugoson.

It will be one to two months before the secretary makes a declaration, he said.

Although crop loss is currently estimated at $1 billion, many Minnesota farmers carry federal crop insurance, said Hugoson.

Some 85 percent of state corn crops and 95 percent of wheat and soybean crops are federally insured, said Hugoson.

Still, this does not entirely make good the loss.

ìYouíve got to understand, this will not make farmers whole,î said Hugoson.

The drought, which is widespread, could result in higher prices at the grocery store, he said.

But for a farmer who loses half their crop, a fifteen cent increase in the market will not likely make good their loss, he explained.

Farmers in Ohio and Indiana ó states less impacted by drought ó will likely benefit from the drought.

ìWeíll get the (disaster relief) paperwork finalized and submitted,î said Pawlenty, speaking on his radio show.

ìIím hopeful the federal government through Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman will grant our declaration and that relief will be flowing to our farmers,î he said.

House DFLers on Thursday (Sept. 4) encouraged Pawlenty to seek federal disaster relief for farmers.

ìDrive from the Twin Cities to Willmar and youíll see field after field of corn and soybeans turning brown,î said Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar.

ìA major disaster could really hurt our stateís economy and that affects our own precarious budget situation in the State of Minnesota,î he said.

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