With the full support of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has asked Acting U.S. Agriculture Secretary Chuck Connor to declare 22 Missouri counties as natural disaster areas as a result of the agricultural loss due to this year’s drought.

The drought of 2007 has severely impacted row crop yields as well as livestock operations. In Southeast Missouri, harvest season is well underway and counties are reporting anywhere from a 25-percent loss to a 90-percent loss on different crops as a direct result of the drought conditions. Many of the livestock producers are being forced to use fall and winter feed now, due to the shortage of hay.

Other livestock producers are simply selling off their herds due to the drought conditions and the shortage of forage.

The counties requested for declaration of natural disaster areas are: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Scott, Stoddard, Washington and Wayne.

“Drought conditions in several counties have negatively impacted this year’s crop production and harvest, and is taking a toll on Missouri farm families,” Blunt said. “At my request, the Missouri Farm Service Agency did complete assessments and found that Missouri farm families are suffering economic hardships from continued drought conditions.”

In a press release, U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson stated, “This year, our agriculture producers have worked under some of the toughest weather conditions in the nation. They are in the only industry where you buy your inputs at retail cost and sell them at wholesale costs. They pay shipping costs both ways. When production is high, prices are low and when prices are favorable, good yields can be tough to come by. The feed supply for half a herd of cattle or a soybean crop can be wiped out by a single natural disaster even after a whole year of hard work and planning. The impact of this year’s drought will be no less difficult for those who make a living from the land because of increased commodity prices.”

If Acting Agriculture Secretary Conner does indeed deem the counties stated natural disaster areas, more information will be available through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The local USDA Service Center is located on Ridgeview Lane in Dexter and can be contacted by calling 573-624-5939.

Bobby Greer can be reached via email at bgreer@dailystatesman.com