We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Great Falls, MT - In June drought emergency was declared in 19 northcentral and eastern counties in the state by Governor Steve Bullock. In response to drought conditions in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota the USDA authorized emergency CRP grazing in those states. Montana Farmers Union joined forces with other drought affected Farmers Union states to support that action and are now going a step further. MFU is partnering with North Dakota Farmers Union in requesting that congress authorize direct disaster payments in response to the drought. “Montana Farmers Union stands for family farmers,” said President Alan Merrill. “Crop insurance helps, but is not sufficient in helping our producers survive the unpredictable commodity markets especially during times of drought and natural disasters. We see this need as an immediate need and are hoping congress will take into account the devastating impact the drought has had on Montana farmers and ranchers. We are working with the Montana delegation to fight for Montana farmers to get them the assistance they need.”
According to the USDA during the 1970’s there was a “standing” disaster payments program without declaration of a disaster area. Regular payments ceased after 1981. Since that time ad hoc disaster payments have been specifically approved by congress on a number of occasions.
In addition to the drought, the Lodgepole Fire in Garfield and Petroleum Counties has left farmers and ranchers without pasture land to graze livestock, but Merrill said the problem already existed as evident by the authorization of emergency CRP grazing. “The fire was really the final straw for ranchers in the fire stricken counties. We have producers who were already looking for land to graze cattle on because of the drought. Ranchers will be forced to go to market early or find additional land to graze livestock. Going to market early means great losses for Montana ranchers.”
According to Mark Jacobsen with the Bureau of Land Management the Miles City BLM Approved Resource Management Plan provides that livestock grazing would be suspended following a wildfire until the grazing could continue as Standards for Rangeland Health. “Even if it does rain another issue(s) to deal with, for example, as encountered with past large fires was getting range improvement projects back in functional operation (e.g., tanks, pipelines, fences). It all depends on precipitation,” said Jacobsen.
As far as obligations on the part of ranchers who lease BLM land, Jacobsen said the impacted permittees can apply to the BLM for a refund for all, or a portion of their grazing fees depending on several factors. Ranchers are encouraged to contact their local BLM office for further details.
“Regardless of their income for the year, farmers and ranchers must still make their loan payments; pay insurance premiums and property taxes like everyone else, yet when drought or disaster strikes there is no guarantee for income,” said Merrill. “This is a dire situation and needs immediate action. The time to act is now.”
