Days after instituting a program to help Missouri farmers struggling from drought conditions to drill or deepen water wells or expand irrigation systems, Gov. Jay Nixon has pumped an additional $5 million into the project to supplement the initial $2 million.
Since signing an executive order July 23 to authorize the State Soil and Water Districts Commission to institute the program, more than 600 Missouri farmers have submitted applications for assistance, and 33 contracts have been approved at an average award of $6,300. According to a news release, House Bill 8 provides the governor the authority to direct funding in the event of a declared emergency.
“The shortages of water and hay caused by the drought have hit Missouri farmers hard, and the response we’ve seen to this assistance program is evidence of how bad the problem is,” Nixon said in the release. “We will stand with our livestock producers and farmers every step of the way.”
Under the program, 90 percent of eligible project costs are being covered. Due to the emergency nature of the cost-share program, applications are due Aug. 6.
Also on July 23, the governor signed an executive order declaring of state of emergency, which activates the State Emergency Operations Plan that gives state agencies the ability to assist local jurisdictions with emergency response efforts. On July 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated all 114 Missouri counties as natural disaster areas, giving eligible farmers the ability to receive federal assistance. That same day, state Treasurer Clint Zweifel authorized 24-hour approvals of low-interest Missouri Linked Deposit Program loans for farmers, according to
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