News Releases for March 2008
March 03, 2008
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Hoeven Meets In D.C. On Farm Bill, Elk Management, NAWS
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today met in Washington D.C. with White House and administration officials on several issues of importance to North Dakota.
Farm Bill
At the White House this afternoon, Hoeven met with Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture Hunter Moorhead to urge prompt passage for the Farm Bill.
Hoeven also met last week with U.S. Sec. of Agriculture Ed Schafer. The Governor has been lobbying for more than a year on behalf of farmers and ranchers to secure a farm bill that works for North Dakota.
“We again impressed upon the president’s agriculture advisor how vitally important the Farm Bill is to North Dakota producers,” Hoeven said. “We appreciate that the White House is working toward a compromise with the Congress, but we stressed the importance of getting it done soon, so that producers can plan for the spring planting season.”
Hoeven again stressed the importance of a strong counter-cyclical safety net, as well as higher loan rates and target prices for northern crops like wheat and oil seeds. He also emphasized inclusion of strong provisions for energy, conservation and the sugar industry.
In addition, the Governor again encouraged the administration to support the disaster aid title and improvement to crop insurance, so that farmers and ranchers can effectively manage risk when weather-related disasters occur.
Northwest Area Water Supply
Hoeven also met today with Bob Johnson, commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the lead federal agency responsible for the Northwest Area Water Supply project. As he did in his testimony last month regarding the Environmental Impact Statement for the project, Hoeven urged the agency to select the original treatment options approved by the Bureau and the EPA in 2001.
“This project has been repeatedly delayed, and now it’s time to get it funded, completed, and running water in the pipes that are already in the ground,” Hoeven said.
The NAWS project will bring fresh water from Lake Sakakawea to residents and businesses in North Dakota, including Minot and the Minot Air Force Base.
Elk Management In Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Hoeven also met today with National Park Service (NPS) Deputy Director Dan Wenk about a management plan for Theodore Roosevelt National Park using qualified volunteers to control elk numbers.
Hoeven said one of the options in the Park Service’s evaluation of the elk population should be the use of certified volunteer sharpshooters, like the plan The North Dakota Game and Fish Department developed. State Game and Fish officials could help train skilled volunteers.
NPS officials told the Governor that they would hold a hearing in North Dakota to allow the public and state wildlife officials to discuss details of the plan and how the harvest should be managed. Arrangements are currently underway to set a date.
“Excessive elk populations in the park are essentially a federal problem that the state is stepping up to help fix,” Hoeven said. “We will continue to make the case for a sensible and cost effective solution.”
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