Walker declares drought and seeks disaster relief
Utah agriculture expected to lose $133 million
"Utah remains one of the hardest-hit states by this prolonged drought, and I am asking for immediate assistance from our federal government," Walker said, according to a press statement released by her office.
The declaration comes after six straight years of below-average rainfall, according to the statement. The impact on Utah's agricultural economy this year is estimated at $133 million 30 percent of the value of the normal harvest.
"Utah's farmers and ranches are experiencing some of the driest conditions on record, and help is desperately needed," the governor added.
The declaration covers all of Utah's 29 counties, but "extreme drought" conditions are present in 21 of them, qualifying them for primary drought disaster designation. Those are Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Washington and Wayne counties.
If the 21 counties are named primary disaster areas, farmers in the other eight also would become eligible for federal assistance because they live in counties that are adjacent to ones named federal disaster areas.
In letter sent Friday to Ann M. Veneman, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Walker asks for relief for hundreds of farmers and ranchers who face substantial crop loss because of drought, compounded by "record cricket and grasshopper infestation."
According to Cary G. Peterson, the Utah commissioner of agriculture and food, irrigation reservoirs statewide are at well below normal levels. Some are nearly empty.
The extreme conditions also qualified the state for special livestock feed assistance from the USDA, the statement said.
Comments
- Regulators close Wyoming bank 9:17 p.m.
- Bailout $ may aid small business 9:16 p.m.
- Facebook sued on control of content 9:15 p.m.
- Poor more likely to leave California 9:13 p.m.
- Montana guv blasts GM 9:11 p.m.
- GM exits bankruptcy quickly 9:10 p.m.
- Death near Rockville suspicious 9:09 p.m.
- May trade deficit dropped to $26B 9:08 p.m.
- Continental granted antitrust immunity 9:07 p.m.
- Jackson event draws thousands 9:02 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - LDS seminary principal arrested
132 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
93 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
"So depending on where you look, you'll get your answer." Well...that's...
Apparently your allowed to bring politics into this "sports" story but if...
After 4 years of slick-talking-Obama-Mania, I think the time will come when...
I had Bro. Pratt his first year teaching. I cannot tell you what a...
It's time to let him go, there is no way he is worth that kind of money. We...
Anonymous | 6:13 p.m. If YOU believe it is inevitable that the planet will...
Are the Trail blazers still interested in a trade with the Jazz? If the...
Yes, this is a very bad deal. I'm glad you geniuses can see through it. Now...
Let Obama pay for it all. He taxing me to death, to help the so called poor,...
Paul did exactly what the Jazz management told his agent to do: "Go out and...



You can be the first to comment on this story.