Holden asks for drought assessment of entire state

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Bob Holden has asked for the federal government to assess drought damage throughout the state because of persistently high temperatures and a lack of rain.

Earlier this week, Holden asked the federal government to declare 39 drought-stricken counties in western Missouri as disaster areas, which would allow farmers access to federal aid such as low-interest loans.

On Friday, Holden asked the Missouri branch of the federal Farm Service Agency to assess drought damage in the remaining 75 counties.

Although not all counties have experienced the same degree of dry weather, the majority have suffered from some drought conditions.

"Rather than waiting for the state's drought situation to get worse, I am asking the federal government to assess damage throughout the remainder of the state," Holden said in a news release. "Agriculture plays too significant of a role in Missouri not to take any action we can. To me, assessing all counties is the most efficient way to provide assistance to our farmers."

Areas in northwest Missouri are classified as being in extreme drought, while much of the western and west-central regions range from moderate to severe drought. The dry conditions that have plagued northern and western Missouri for two years are creeping south and east this year, Holden said. The bulk of the state's corn crop is rated in poor condition, and soybeans are in need of rain to develop pods.

"While some parts of the state have received spotty rains this week, the accumulation has not been enough to offset two years of extremely dry weather," Holden said.

The damage assessment reports will show the extent of the drought damage and could make producers in those counties eligible to apply for low-interest loans, Holden said. The loans can be used to restore or replace property, cover all or part of production costs, pay essential family living expenses, reorganize farming operations and refinance debt.

Holden's latest request includes the following counties: Adair, Audrain, Barry, Bollinger, Boone, Butler, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Christian, Clark, Cole, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Howard, Howell, Iron, Jasper, Jefferson, Knox, Laclede, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, McDonald, Miller, Mississippi, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, New Madrid, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Ralls, Randolph, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shannon, Shelby, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster and Wright.

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On the Net:

Gov. Bob Holden: http://www.gov.state.mo.us

Farm Service Agency: http://www.fsa.usda.gov