“Unfortunately, portions of Montana remain extremely dry and are devastated by years of continuous drought, leading to prolonged hardship for our farmers and ranchers,” Rehberg said in today’s letter to Veneman. “I also encourage you to quickly issue NDD’s for the eighteen (18) additional counties Montana Governor Judy Martz submitted to you in two previous requests.” 

    Rehberg, who last month launched a statewide series of drought forums, said producers across the state have helped him identify 21 counties in need of drought declarations, in addition to the 18 counties for which Gov. Martz requested a drought declaration from USDA.

    “Half of the state is suffering from extreme drought, pushing many producers to the brink of financial ruin,” Rehberg, a Billings rancher, explained.  “These USDA drought programs have saved many family farms, but more assistance is needed.” 

    Under a Natural Disaster Determination, farmers and ranchers are able to take advantage of programs such as low interest loans and capital gains tax extensions for those forced to liquidate due to the drought.  Rehberg urged Veneman to issue drought disaster determinations for Big Horn, Blaine, Custer, Dawson, Flathead, Glacier, Jefferson, Lake, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Musselshell, Park, Powell, Roosevelt, Sanders, Sweet Grass, Toole, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone Counties.

 “Recently, I also urged Veneman to open Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage for emergency haying and grazing, provide 50/50 hay cost-shares for livestock producers, and allow additional payment deferments on Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans,” Rehberg said.