| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Andy Gray |
| September 15, 2006 | (406) 444-3730 |
Livestock Assistance Headed for Seven Montana Counties
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Department of Agriculture will administer $933,443
in federal drought assistance to livestock producers who suffered forage
production losses in seven counties of south-central and southeastern Montana,
Governor Brian Schweitzer announced Friday.
"This assistance is badly needed in areas where ranchers face the possibility
of having to drastically reduce their foundation herds if they can't purchase
feed to sustain animals through the fall and winter," Schweitzer said.
The department intends to work with the Montana State University Extension Service to sign up affected producers from October 16 to November 28, 2006, in an effort to make checks available by the end of December, said Nancy K. Peterson, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture. Details will be announced before the start of the sign-up period.
Eligible counties in Montana are Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River and Rosebud.
The funding is part of $50 million in block grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture made available for drought-stricken counties in 20 states. The USDA said in a letter to Governor Schweitzer that county eligibility was determined using U.S. Drought Monitor maps, which are prepared at the National Drought Mitigation Center in Nebraska.
"We agreed to take on the task of administering the grants, using federal guidelines, because it is the fastest way to get the assistance to eligible producers," Director Peterson said.
The Montana Department of Agriculture is working with the Governor's Office, the Montana State University Extension Service and the USDA Farm Service Agency to establish criteria and methods for the sign up and distribution.
Details will be available by early October at MSU Extension Service offices in the seven counties and at tribal extension offices on reservations in the affected counties. Information from the Montana Department of Agriculture can be obtained from Andy Gray, commodity section program manager, at (406) 444-3730 or by email at agr@mt.gov.
