July 16, 2002
By
Grant Stumbough
Those on the conference call:
Dick Loper Jeri Trebelcock Marvin Applequist Lois Van Mark Dave Wallace Ron Micheli Bob Mountain Tom Enright John Barnes Jane Darnell Tim Nowach Jim Magagna Bryce ReeceThe following issues were discussed on the conference call:
Presidential Disaster Designation
The subcommittee discussed this as an option to help our ag producers. Presidential Disaster Designation can only be declared on a county by county basis. The Stafford Act authorizes this type of designation and must be requested by the Governor. If declared, this will open up federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) dollars to assist in mitigating the impacts of drought. However, this type of disaster designation has never been declared for drought. This will be difficult and we will have to demonstrate a significant harm to people. THIS WILL BE A LONG SHOT BUT THE SUBCOMMITTEE BELIEVES WE MUST TRY! I have contacted Ed Wallace with the Wyoming Emergency Management Agency and he has given me list of information/data that is needed in order for us to make a case (ie., number of USDA disaster declared counties, number of producers going out of business, decline in ag employment, impacts to households, loss of wildlife, decline in local economies, ect.). August 1 will be the deadline to get all information to the WDA.
Locating Hay for Wyoming Producers
The subcommittee decided to put several half page advertisements in the Wyoming Livestock Roundup of hay producers that have hay for sale. The list will include instate and out of state hay producers. The list will originate from the "Hay Hotline" developed by the Wyoming Business Council. Our intent is to provide ag producers with a list of hay contacts to negociate their own purchases. We will also list the phone number of the Wyoming Trucking Association to provide a selection of trucking firms to meet specific transportation needs.
We have also been working with the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads in hauling hay from back east at a reasonable cost. We have several contacts and are still working on this idea.
The subcommittee also discussed developing a cost share program for hauling hay. Currently there are no state or federal cost share programs for transporting hay. A special Legislative session would be needed to allocate state dollars for this program. This idea was not well received due to the fact that the current drought is affecting everyone in Wyoming and not just ag producers and it is difficult to decide where you draw the line in providing cost share assistance. In addition, cost share assistance often raises the price of that particular service due to increased demand and dollars available.
Holding a Special Legislative Session
The subcommittee discussed this as an option. A special Legislative session would have to be initiated and requested by the Governor. Colorado and Nebraska are considering this to help their ag producers. The Legislature could set up a Governor's Natural Disaster Relief Account to help producers survive the drought. Again, it would be difficult in determining who would receive assistance and who would not, given that drought affects everyone. For example, numerous businesses and vendors have also been impacted by the drought to include fireworks stands, ranch and farm implement dealers, clothing and retail stores, tourism, etc. Who do you help and who do you leave out? If the state helped everyone who has been severely impacted by the drought, state funds would diminish quickly. This idea was tabled by the subcommittee.
Continue Working with the Congressional Delegation in Providing Support to Fund Federal Drought Relief Programs
Several drought relief programs have been introduced into Congress to include:
1) Tax Code Revision Bill (S 2762) – Sponsored by Senator Thomas and co-sponsored by Senator Enzi to provide tax relief for those livestock producers forced to sell livestock due to drought. Provisions allow producers to defer taxes on the gain of livestock sales or replace livestock without reporting a gain for up to two years after the drought has officially ended. Representative Cubin has also introduced a similar bill into the House (H.R. 5227) which provides a 4 year window after the drought has ended to defer taxes or replace livestock without reporting a gain.
2) Drought Preparedness Act of 2002 – Sponsored by Senator Domenici from New Mexico. This Bill sets up a National Drought Council and provides for a Drought Assistance Fund to help states develop their own drought mitigation programs. The Western Governor's Association assisted in drafting the Bill.
3) Emergency Livestock Assistance Act (S 2768) – Provides funding for the Livestock Assistance Program (LAP) – Sponsored by Senator Enzi and provides for 620 million dollars to be put into this program to provide disaster assistance to livestock producers.
4) Twin Drought Relief Bills– Representative Thune R-SD and Senator Daschle D-SD have introduced similar Bills in the House and Senate to assist ag producers during drought. Senator Daschle's Bill will be funded through an emergency appropriation and Representative Thune's Bill will be funded by savings from the Farm Bill. Both Bills have a price tag of 5 to 6 billion dollars.
Long Term Drought Planning
The subcommittee discussed briefly the need to incorporate drought management plans into BLM and Forest Service Allotment Management Plans (AMP's). Grant Stumbough will visit with Tom Thurow to intiate this effort. A subcommittee consisting of Bob Mountain, Tom Enright, and Dick Loper was formed last April with Tom Thurow as the project leader.
Range Management Emergency Drought Needs Checklist
The subcommittee discussed the final draft of the checklist that was developed in providing a ten day turn around time for installation of temporary water facilities and/or fence. Several subcommittee members feel that an archeological contact or review is not needed for temporary placement of water tanks in dried up reservoirs or barrow pits. Ron Micheli met with John Keck, Director of State Parks and Cultural Resources, about this issue and we hope to develop a programatic agreement to resolve these issues in the future. For now, the State Archeologist recommended that BLM and Forest Service range managers approve mechanically pre-disturbed sites for water tank location and then have the agency archeologist sign off rather than conduct a complete cultural review.
Other issues that were not discussed due to lack of time include:
-Authorization of the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection program
-2002 Special Emergency Haying and Grazing of CRP Acreages in Wyoming
The conference call adjourned at 3:00pm.