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Press Release- Feb 01, 2007

OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THURSDAY, FEB. 1, 2007

Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370

GOV. RITTER URGES CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO TAKE QUICK ACTION ON BLIZZARD AID FOR S.E. COLORADO

Gov. Bill Ritter today urged Colorado¿s nine-member Congressional delegation to quickly take up legislation that would bring financial aid to farmers and ranchers struggling to recover from this winter's blizzards.

"Livestock producers in southeastern Colorado and the region need help immediately," Ritter said in a letter to the delegation. ¿I ask that you join with your fellow members of Congress to swiftly pass legislation to ensure that the entire region¿s economic base quickly recovers.

"Specifically, livestock producers need Congress to fund emergency programs that will assist in recovering the costs of livestock feed, the value of lost livestock, disposal of livestock carcasses, and costs associated with the rescue of livestock immediately following the storms."

The state has taken several steps to assist farmers, ranchers, county governments and others in southeast Colorado hit hardest by the back-to-back December blizzards and ongoing frigid temperatures.

  • Former Gov. Bill Owens issued two State of Emergency declarations that freed up $2 million in state money for emergency-rescue and snow-removal operations.

  • Ritter this week announced that eight counties would receive an additional $635,000 in state funds to help pay for snow-removal costs.

  • On Jan. 16, Ritter asked the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to provide low-interest emergency loans to farmers and ranchers. The U.S.D.A. last week agreed to provide those loans to farmers and ranchers in 20 counties.
"While the loan assistance is a good start, due to the magnitude of the losses, it is not enough," Ritter said in the letter to the delegation. "Several bills are pending before Congress. Colorado needs you to take immediate action in order to protect one of the state's most important economic sectors."

An estimated 10,000 cattle died in the storm and the toll will continue to mount as snow melts and additional carcasses are discovered. The area is home to 345,000 head of cattle and calves, 23,500 head of producing sows and 112,000 head of sheep and lambs, all with an estimated value of $500 million. Livestock constitutes 70 percent of Colorado's agricultural gross product.