News Releases for May 2008
May 09, 2008
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Hoeven Declares Statewide Agricultural Drought Emergency
Executive Order 2008-02 
(640kb pdf)
BISMARCK, N.D. - With extended dry conditions across the state and little significant rainfall in the forecast, Gov. John Hoeven today declared a statewide “early phase agricultural drought emergency.”
“We have the potential for continuing dry conditions that could cause real hardship to farmers and ranchers across the state,” Hoeven said. “We’ve had no appreciable precipitation in many areas of the state and this may pose a problem for crop production and for livestock water needs later on this summer.”
There was little snowfall cover this winter in many areas of the state, and precipitation this spring has been well below normal, creating abnormally dry conditions. Consequently, livestock water sources, including pasture ponds and dugouts, are dry because they were not replenished by spring runoff. This, coupled with dry conditions, low subsoil moisture levels, high winds and lack of rainfall, will have a detrimental impact on crop and pasture conditions.
The Governor’s declaration will allow the implementation of the Livestock Water Assistance Program, a state cost-share program for permanent livestock water supply systems. The Governor has called a special meeting of the North Dakota Water Commission on Wednesday, May 14 to reactivate and fund the program.
The declaration also directs the Agriculture Working Group of the Drought Task Force to convene and directs all state agencies and departments to maintain agricultural drought response resources and capabilities at high levels of readiness to effectively execute the State Emergency Operations Plan.
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