In response to an escalating drought that he warned might cause farm families to go bankrupt, Missouri Governor Mike Parson issued a drought notice on Thursday.
Farmer Parson claimed during a press conference that drought conditions are now present in 53 counties, mostly in southern Missouri, and that they are spreading into the state’s center regions.
He stated that it is essential to start providing resources right away because it is unlikely that the situation would get any better soon.
In order to issue a drought alert for 53 counties around Missouri, we have signed an executive order.
As part of Missouri’s drought plan, a drought alert enables the state to take measures to lessen the consequences of drought conditions.
The more proactive we are, the better we can support our farmers and communities in reducing the effects of even the worst droughts, Parson added.
The drought in Missouri occurs at a time when much of the western United States is experiencing a severe drought that is particularly hard on California and the Southwest.
Larger areas of the Midwest have experienced dry weather in recent months.
Every state in the United States had at least a small portion this week that was judged to be in a drought, according to a drought monitor map created by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) on Thursday.
Across its weekly report, UNL’s “U.S. Dry Monitor” said that “warmer-than-normal temperatures” had been observed from Minnesota to Missouri this week, adding that “flash drought conditions continue to emerge in the southern half of Missouri.”
Parson’s order, among other things, activates the state’s drought assessment team, permits state agencies to temporarily suspend some administrative rules, and finds funding to lessen the effects of the drought.
In order to make it simpler for hay to be moved, the Missouri Department of Transportation is also removing some taxes and limitations.
Nearly 75% of Missouri, according to Chris Chinn, director of the state agriculture department, is experiencing a drought, with 35% experiencing severe to exceptional circumstances.
Producers are being forced to make some extremely difficult choices, according to Chinn.
“They must transport some of their animals to marketplaces for slaughter.
Others have even begun feeding hay in July, even though it is typically something you do in the fall.”
More than 40 conservation areas and 20 parks in Missouri have water sources identified by the state departments of Natural Resources and Conservation.
Additionally, state agencies are locating conserved acreage that can be converted into hay for livestock.
Even if rain does fall, according to Chinn and Parson, the drought conditions will persist into the winter and the state will be ready to assist farmers for many more months.
Sara Parker Pauley, director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, noted that the dry weather was also causing a spike of wildfires, with more than 90 of them destroying 491 acres since June 1.
Other western states are also dealing with wild fires, with California being among the worst-affected.
According to Parson, Missouri has requested assistance from the federal government and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri for the drought response.