Gov. Jay Nixon yesterday declared a state of emergency in Missouri following weeks of severe heat and drought that are affecting the state's agriculture and public health.
The executive order activates the State Emergency Operations Plan, which gives state agencies the power to assist local jurisdictions with emergency response efforts, according to a news release.
“The high temperatures and dry conditions across the state are taking their toll on Missourians,” Nixon said in the release. “Our farmers are suffering tremendous losses in crops and livestock, and we’re seeing more heat-related deaths and emergency room visits, particularly among seniors.
"In addition, we continue to see a high risk of fire from tinderbox conditions, and we are monitoring how the drought is affecting public water supplies and distribution."
This morning, Nixon visited the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, where he announced an emergency cost-share program - available to livestock or crop farmers who have had their productions severely impacted by drought conditions - had been expedited by the state of emergency executive order. A separate executive order signed July 23 authorized the State Soil and Water Districts Commission to institute the program, which would allow 90 percent of project costs for well drilling or deepening to be covered, with a maximum cost-share award of $20,000. Applications are due Aug. 6, according to a separate release.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported 25 heat-related deaths in the state, and the agency received hospital reports of 829 heat-related emergency room visits May 1-July 22.
Last week, Nixon toured Missouri farms, including the 300-acre Wheeler family farm in Bolivar. Also last week, Sen. Roy Blunt visited the Baxter family dairy farm in Rogersville, where the family is struggling to produce hay and to water their cattle, according to
OzarksFirst.com. Both Blunt and Sen. Claire McCaskill are calling for passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, which would reform agriculture policy and save more than $23 billion in taxpayer money, according to
Ag.Senate.Gov.
On July 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated all 114 Missouri counties as primary natural disaster areas. With the designation, eligible farmers can receive assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency, including
emergency low-interest loans, according to a separate release.
Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel's office also has authorized 24-hour approvals of low-interest
Missouri Linked Deposit Programs loans for farmers, according to a July 17 news release.[[In-content Ad]]
