Gov. Mike Parson on Monday announced a pair of programs his administration hope will help farmers stave off the worst effects of this summer's drought.
A lottery will be used to disburse hay from about 900 acres of state land to farmers throughout the state. The plan also will allow livestock farmers to pump up to 5,000 gallons of water per day from 28 conservation areas and five state parks.
Parson made the announcement at a news conference Monday with representatives from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Missouri Department of Conservation.
Scattered rain showers Sunday blanketed portions of Mid-Missouri with between a half-inch and 2 inches of rain, according to National Weather Service data. Parson said the showers helped but did little to alleviate the drought.
"It's been a blessing for some parts of our state," Parson said. "However, drought conditions are still very serious."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture showed Thursday that parts of northern Moniteau, Cole and western Callaway counties are experiencing extreme drought conditions. Severe drought conditions also now cover almost all of Cole County and much of Callaway County. Drought conditions appear to be worst in northwestern Missouri, northeastern Missouri and southwestern Missouri, according to the USDA drought monitor.
Parson said all options are on the table to combat the drought. The two moves made Monday were designed to help livestock farmers throughout the state.
"Our farmers need our support," Parson said. "I want them to know that their state government will continue to be on the front line with them."
Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn said conditions are so bad in some parts of the state that farmers are hauling hay in from other states. In normal years farmers do not need to refill farm ponds in August because they get replenished by winter snow, Chinn said. For the year, many areas around Jefferson City have received between 2-4 inches less precipitation than normal, according to NWS data.
"We already were behind on the rainfall because didn't have a lot of snow through the winter," Chinn said.
Missouri Cattlemen's Association President Mike Deering told the News Tribune the access to hay helps, but access to water is a bigger problem for cattle farmers.
"When you're getting short on hay, there are some things you can do to get creative," Deering said. "There is no alternative to water, so you have to have access to water for your livestock."
Livestock farmers around Mid-Missouri can pump water from Binder Lake in Jefferson City, Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area in Fulton and Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area in Chamois. To make arrangements, farmers can call 573-751-4115, extension 3209.
The hay lottery opened Monday and runs through Aug. 25. Haying will be done at 15 locations in Missouri, including Rock Bridge Memorial State Park in Columbia and Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton.
Farmers can find more information about both the water pumping program and the hay lottery online at dnr.mo.gov/droughtresources.htm.
Already Parson and the DNR have created a drought assessment committee to assess the impacts of this year's drought. The DNR also granted a statewide variance that allowed grazing on land normally unavailable for grazing. The state has $2 million available to help farmers plant cover crops, address inadequate feed and forage and to address other natural resource questions relating to the drought.
Farmers must have their own equipment to pump water. Deering hopes local fire departments will help farmers haul water.
During another crippling drought in 2012 the state issued emergency grants to help farmers drill wells, run water pipes and install water pumps. Parson said no similar programs are being planned right now. Still, the state may look at other programs to help row crop farmers and livestock farmers if the drought worsens, Parson said.
"We're looking at everything," Parson said. "This is a long way from being over."
Deering liked the steps taken by Parson but said many more small steps will need to be taken to help farmers.
"There is nothing that came out of today or nothing that government can do to totally solve the problem," Deering said. "But this administration is taking steps to mitigate this in the best way they can."
EARLIER COVERAGE:
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri farmers suffering from intense droughts across the state will be able to hay and pump water from some state land through new relief programs announced Monday by Gov. Mike Parson.
Farmers will have access to water at 28 conservation areas and five state parks in northern and mid-Missouri, where the drought is hitting the hardest. The state also opened a lottery for haying on nearly 900 acres of Missouri State Parks land.
The programs are aimed at helping farmers get by in face of below-average rainfall in the state since winter. The U.S. Drought Monitor map shows that nearly all of Missouri is experiencing drought, with several counties in the northwestern part of the state facing "exceptional" conditions - the most dire classification assigned by the monitor.
Parson, a rancher, said he fed his cattle hay this month for the first time in his life because of dry conditions.
"Anytime you're feeding hay in the state of Missouri in August, I guarantee that is not a good sign for any farmers in this state," Parson told reporters gathered in his Capitol office.
The southwestern U.S. is also experiencing drought. New Mexico's governor issued a drought declaration in July, groundwater levels have dropped across much of Arizona as crops are being irrigated, the price of hay doubled in southwest Colorado as fires burned in other parts of the state, and several Utah counties have drought declarations in place after having the warmest and least snowy winter since the 1800s.
Missouri is faring the worst of Midwestern states, although parts of Kansas are extremely dry.
Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer declared a drought emergency in March, and Kansas Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Heather Lansdowne said that triggered a suspension of motor carrier rules and regulations to ease the path for farmers to transport hay. Kansas farmers also can access water from some state fishing lakes and federal reservoirs, and Lansdowne said some federally protected acreage is open to haying and grazing.
Missouri farmers are under heavy pressure because of the extent of the drought - Parson said 86 counties are currently on drought alert - and because they compete with farmers in neighboring Illinois, Nebraska and the northern half of Iowa, where it's now drought-free.
Under the new Missouri initiatives, up to 5,000 gallons of water can be pumped from specified sites daily per farm. Farmers can apply for the hay lottery through Saturday. One farmer from each location will be issued a permit that will allow haying on state grasslands from Aug. 27 through Nov. 27.