Months-long drought wreaks havoc on crops around Bowman County.
By BRYCE MARTIN
Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
Bowman County farmers spent the last several months staring at the skies, hoping for rain. But it would seldom come, creating this year one of longest droughts seen in recent years for area farmers.
Because of the severity of the drought conditions, which existed through planting, growing and harvest seasons, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated Bowman County as a primary natural disaster area. Losses caused by the drought were widespread throughout the area.
The most crucial portion of the drought occurred during planting.
“Our hearts go out to those North Dakota farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement released this week. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We’re also telling North Dakota producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.”
The drought spread to nearby areas effecting farmers and ranchers in the adjacent counties of Adams and Slope and in Fallon County, Mont., and Harding County, S.D., which also qualified for natural disaster assistance since the counties are contiguous.
The counties were designated natural disaster areas on Sep. 15, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met.
Farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
