Friday, 1 July 2011

Ag Officials Meet to Discuss North Dakota Crop Disaster

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07/01/2011 09:26 AM EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 2011.12
Contact: Dan Janes (701)893-2243, dan.janes@nd.usda.gov

Ag Officials Meet to Discuss North Dakota Crop Disaster

FARGO, N.D. – June 27, 2011 – Leaders from several USDA agencies met today to discuss the potential impacts of flooding and other natural disasters in North Dakota on the 2011 crop. The meeting, convened by Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Aaron Krauter, provided an early glimpse at what may be a disastrous year for farmers and ranchers in the state.

Besides the presidential disaster declaration process that many are familiar with, the Secretary of Agriculture can also designate counties as disaster areas based on agricultural losses. “Governor Dalrymple has requested that we complete a damage assessment report as the initial step in the secretarial designation process,” Krauter said. “Today’s meeting lets us formalize the assessment process and makes sure that all of the USDA agencies in North Dakota are stepping forward as one to get the most accurate information possible.”

Heavy winter snows, flooding along many rivers in the state, and excessive rain have combined to keep producers from planting an estimated 6.3 million acres this year. That’s over a quarter of the more than 22 million acres that is normally planted in North Dakota. Hardest hit has been the northwestern corner of the state north and west of Minot, where it is estimated that three quarters of their counties’ cropland could go unplanted.

Final numbers on unplanted acreage probably won’t be available until August, Krauter says. “FSA’s acreage reporting deadline is July 15th, but we expect there will be some areas that have quite a few late reports because producers are having difficulty just making it in to town because of washed out and flooded roads.” Producers are encouraged to file their acreage reports as soon as possible, as well as report any losses to livestock or farm buildings to their local FSA office.

Producers with losses in counties that are designated as disasters by the Secretary of Agriculture or in a contiguous county may be eligible for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) Program or low-interest emergency loans.

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