News Releases for July 2002
July 5, 2002
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Hoeven Follows Up With Ag Secretary Veneman On Opening CRP Statewide, Calls For Extension Of ECP Assistance
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor. John Hoeven today followed up on previous contacts with the US Department of Agriculture by sending a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman requesting statewide opening of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to grazing and haying. Hoeven also requested that Veneman expand Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funding to assist ranchers. Veneman has approved ECP funds for Grant and Sioux counties. The move comes in response to severe drought conditions and wildfires in southern North Dakota.
“Drought conditions this spring and summer have been severe in all of southern North Dakota,” Hoeven said. “Devastating pasture- and hay-land losses in these counties have, and will, make it extremely difficult for producers to secure enough feed to keep their livestock herds intact.”
Because of the extreme dry conditions, Hoeven requested that Veneman permit haying on CRP acres across the state to allow ranchers in drought-stricken counties to both graze and hay CRP land. This is necessary, Hoeven said, because there is not enough hay and grazing available for cattle in the affected counties.
Earlier this week, Veneman approved ECP funds to two North Dakota counties, Sioux and Grant. Hoeven requested that Veneman give immediate consideration to extending ECP relief action to other drought-affected counties in the state as well.
“I personally toured the drought area last week and over the weekend, and I can testify to the desperate situation and the extreme lack of harvestable vegetation,” Hoeven said. “It is imperative that a positive decision be made immediately because with the intense heat we are experiencing throughout North Dakota the existing CRP acres are quickly losing their value as a livestock food source.”
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