ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 9, 2008

JOHNSON ACTIVATES AG WORKING GROUP OF DROUGHT TASK FORCE

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson has called a meeting of the Agriculture Working Group of the Drought Task Force for 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, in the Peace Garden Room of the State Capitol.

“As you know, many areas of North Dakota, especially the western part of the state, are experiencing severe drought,” Johnson said in a memorandum to task force members. “Governor Hoeven issued an executive order today, officially declaring a statewide early-phase agricultural drought emergency.”

Johnson had asked the governor on April 25, to declare a limited drought emergency in order to trigger the State Water Commission’s Livestock Water Supply Assistance Program.

Activation of the working group is required by the Procedures for Implementation of Drought Mitigation Measures, adopted in 2002. Authority is provided by the North Dakota Disaster Act of 1985 and the North Dakota Emergency Operations Plan.

The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting includes a review of task force objectives, status reports from task force members and discussion on crops, forage, livestock and water conditions, and recommendations.

The Agriculture Working Group, chaired by Johnson, includes representatives from the USDA State Emergency Board, the Atmospheric Resource Board, Federal Crop Insurance Corp., North Dakota Game and Fish Department, North Dakota Department of Transportation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, North Dakota Parks and Recreation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, State Water Commission, the Governor’s Office, North Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Emergency Management, U.S. Agricultural  Statistics Service, North Dakota State University Extension Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and USDA Rural Development.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.