Drought

Third driest May through August in the past 113 years

August 29, 2007 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher today sent a request to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns requesting USDA disaster assistance be made available to farmers across the Commonwealth. This request was made due to crop losses resulting from drought conditions that began in February 2007 and continue today.

Governor Fletcher received letters from Kentucky Farm Bureau, Senator Tom Jensen, and Representative Mike Denham encouraging him to seek a disaster declaration from the USDA.    » read more »

Directs State Agencies Across the State to Stop Non-Essential Water Use

8/23/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today directed state agencies in all 100 counties throughout North Carolina to stop non-essential water use as the drought has spread statewide. In addition, the governor is asking all citizens to cut back their water consumption 20 percent since the drought is not expected to let up anytime soon.    » read more »

August 22, 2007 -- Wilmington, DE - Sens. Joe Biden and Tom Carper (both D-DE) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) – released the following statement today, after Gov. Ruth Ann Minner announced that she is requesting a drought disaster declaration for Delaware farmers from the United States Department of Agriculture:    » read more »

8/22/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley announced today he will ask the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for a federal disaster declaration for farmers whose crops and livestock are suffering from the ongoing drought. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Farm Service Agency have nearly completed a statewide survey of crop loss data from farmers to determine which counties to include in a federal disaster request.    » read more »

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Declares Drought Disaster Designation for Entire State

Annapolis, MD (August 22, 2007) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley confirmed with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today that a drought disaster declaration for the entire state of Maryland would be formally announced later today or early tomorrow morning by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. O’Malley called Secretary Johanns earlier today for an update on Maryland’s request for a drought disaster designation.    » read more »

Aug. 22, 2007 -- Dover – Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner announced today that she is requesting a drought disaster declaration for Delaware farmers from the United States Department of Agriculture.

“Protecting our farmers is vital to the success of our agriculture industry,” Gov. Minner said. “The crop losses brought on by this year’s dry conditions have had a significant impact on most of Delaware’s farmers, and my request will hopefully provide them with some relief.”    » read more »

Improve California’s Water Infrastructure

08/21/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senator Dianne Feinstein met today to hear presentations by California’s top water experts working to fix the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta. Experts and stakeholders discussed plans to improve California’s water infrastructure and fix the deteriorating Delta, which supplies clean water to 25 million people in Southern California.    » read more »

August 16, 2007 -- HONOLULU - Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed a proclamation declaring a fire emergency in Hawai`i and offering relief for farmers suffering from droughts and wildfires.

The Governor’s proclamation authorizes the use of the Hawai`i National Guard to assist and aid civilian authorities in disaster relief and in averting imminent public danger, activates a State loan program for farmers, and makes available commercial and personal loans through a state program.    » read more »

Expands Water Restrictions for State Agencies and Urges Citizens to Conserve

8/16/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today expanded his directive to state agencies to stop non-essential use of water to include 74 counties as the latest federal drought map shows the severe lack of rain has spread east as far as Interstate 95. Today's map shows that almost three-fourths of North Carolina, including the coastal plain and Piedmont, are in either severe or extreme drought.    » read more »

August 16, 2007 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today banned outdoor burning in 75 counties in Michigan due to the extremely high wildfire danger that continues to threaten most of the state. The ban covers most of the Lower Peninsula and all of the Upper Peninsula

The emergency ban takes effect at 4:36 p.m. on Friday, August 17 and will remain in effect until conditions change significantly to reduce the risk of fire.    » read more »

Crop Insurance Provides Relief to Farmers

August 15, 2007 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today urged USDA Secretary Mike Johanns to authorize low-interest emergency loans for farmers in 22 Pennsylvania counties. Fifty-eight of the state’s counties have been under a drought watch since Aug. 6 due to precipitation deficits and low groundwater levels.    » read more »

August 15, 2007 -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said today that persistent drought conditions and warm temperatures across most of Michigan have produced very high and extreme fire danger conditions across Michigan. DNR officials are asking citizens and visitors to exercise extreme caution with any open flame and to avoid any activity that may inadvertently cause a spark that could start a fire.    » read more »

Also Declares Statewide Emergency Drought Conditions to Help Wisconsin Farmers

August 14, 2007 -- Wisconsin Governor Doyle has asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to declare 52 drought-stricken counties disaster areas as farmers feel the affects of lack of rain and hot temperatures in recent weeks and officials reported low soil moisture. The Governor also issued an Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency due to current drought conditions.    » read more »

Kansas roadways open up to drought relief

August 14, 2007 -- The considerable amount of rain which has fallen throughout many parts of Kansas this summer has been devastatingly absent in other areas of the country.

A significant drought has placed the Commonwealth of Virginia on the brink of an agricultural crisis. To aid ranchers there, Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed an executive order allowing for speedier exportation of hay and feed.    » read more »

August 14, 2007 -- (Lincoln, NE) Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman was notified today that U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has designated nine Nebraska counties as agricultural disaster areas.

The governor sent a disaster request last month to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to the effects the ongoing drought and a late freeze in the Panhandle region, along with heavy rains in southwest Nebraska, have had on agricultural producers.    » read more »