Thursday, July 21, 2005

Blunt asks for drought assessment

Gov. Matt Blunt today asked the Missouri Farm Service Agency to conduct drought condition damage assessment reports for 106 counties, according to a news release.
"In a letter to Tim Kelley, executive director of the Missouri Farm Service Agency, Blunt said that 106 counties have been without significant rainfall and are suffering from the drought. Reports have been received of scorched pastures causing some livestock farmers to begin feeding their winter supply of hay or to sell their animals prematurely due to the lack of forage. In addition, row crops are in desperate need of rainfall and will most likely suffer substantial yield loss without immediate relief."
The news release continues, "Blunt has requested damage assessment reports for the following counties: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barry, Bates, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, DeKalb, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howard, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Mississippi, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, New Madrid, Nodaway, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Pettis, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis County, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shannon, Shelby, Stoddard, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Worth and Wright. Damage assessment reports will show the extent of the drought damage and could make producers eligible for federal financial assistance."

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