USDA AUTHORIZES EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH DAKOTA

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2002-Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the authorization of emergency haying and limited grazing for Water Bank Program (WBP) contract holders in drought-stricken North Dakota and South Dakota.

"North Dakota and South Dakota livestock producers are experiencing severe drought conditions this year." Veneman said. "We are announcing this emergency relief measure to provide additional immediate help for producers when they need it most."

Emergency haying on water bank areas in the two states will help producers feed cattle and other livestock. In addition, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) also will consider requests to amend producers' conservation plans to allow for limited grazing where consistent with program purposes. These relief efforts will apply statewide to WBP contracts consistent with the Secretary's recent decision on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage.

The NRCS state conservationists for North Dakota and South Dakota, in consultation with the State Technical Committee in these states, will establish guidelines for emergency haying and approved grazing on WBP contracts.

Haying is authorized until Aug. 31, 2002, or until disaster conditions no longer exist, whichever comes first. WBP contract payments will be reduced 25% to account for the areas hayed unless the hay is donated. Grazing requests will require a revision of the WBP contract. Payment reductions and other limitations may also apply. Livestock operators should submit applications to their local NRCS office.

The Water Bank Program was authorized in 1971 and NRCS assumed administrative responsibility for it in 1994. WBP contracts provide protection for migratory waterfowl nesting and breeding areas on privately owned ranches and farms. Participants receive annual payments for 10 years in exchange for voluntarily agreeing to preserve, restore or improve the wetland resources.

There are no appropriations for new contracts or renewals in the program, which has essentially been replaced by the CRP and Wetlands Reserve Program.

On Feb. 26, USDA announced the availability of emergency farm loans for farmers in 50 counties in North Dakota who suffered economic losses as a result of extreme weather. Farmers in 13 South Dakota counties became eligible for emergency farm loans on April 15. Additional information on emergency farm loans is available from local USDA offices or online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/disaster/assistance1.htm . In addition, on June 28 Veneman announced the availability of $1.9 million to South Dakota in Emergency Conservation Program funds and authorized emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acreage in 28 South Dakota counties.

#