Cubin Hosts National Drought Summit in Washington
Event Draws Nationwide Attention to Plight of Ranchers and
Farmers
Washington - U.S. Representative Barbara
Cubin (R-WY) hosted a National Drought Summit in Washington,
D.C. today to draw attention to the devastation caused by what
many researchers have called the worst drought of the century.
This summit was crucial, not only because
it brought folks together to work toward a response to the drought,
but also because it helped raise the national profile of the
disaster this drought has become, said Cubin. This
drought is so bad that we havent even been able to estimate
the total effect it will have on the national economy. But,
because it has happened over years and not days like hurricanes
or floods, the people who have been affected havent gotten
the attention or the aid they deserve.
The summit kicked off in the morning with a panel
discussion led by Rep. Cubin that included ranchers, farmers
and others in the agricultural community from across the nation.
Jim Magagna, Executive Director of the Wyoming Stockgrowers
Association, participated in the panel and spoke with the assembled
members of Congress about the dire circumstances the drought
has caused for Wyomings ranch community.
The summit continued in the afternoon with a roundtable
featuring local, state and national leaders to discuss potential
responses to the drought and possible avenues for relief. A
list of the panelists who participated is enclosed with this
release.
During the first panel, Cubin called attention
to the many ranchers in the country who are at risk of losing
their land because of the impact of the drought.
For many who have run family ranches and
farms in these rural areas for generations, the drought is not
a matter of partisanship, said Cubin. Its
about protecting their family and staying in business. We need
to provide aid to these areas, because they are natural disaster
areas, and because it is the right thing to do.
Last month, Cubin introduced a $6 billion emergency
drought disaster relief bill to Congress that has now gained
cosponsors from representatives of twenty-five different states.
The bill would provide immediate cash assistance to farmers
and ranchers affected by the drought over the past two years.
This drought is just as bad a disaster,
in both physical damage done and in harm to the economy, as
other, higher-profile disasters, said Cubin. People
need to know that our agricultural community is facing the toughest
times weve seen since the Dust Bowl, and that they need
help immediately.
Joining Cubin in her efforts to organize the summit
were; Rep. John Thune (SD), Rep. John Shimkus (IL), Rep. Dennis
Rehberg (MT), Rep. Bob Schaffer (CO), Rep. Tom Osborne (NE),
Rep. Colin Peterson (MN), Rep. Maurice Hinchey (NY) and Rep.
Greg Walden (OR).
###
Morning Panelists:
Jim Magagna, Executive Director of the Wyoming
Stock Growers Association
Dusty Tallman, a Colorado family farmer
Jon Hinkelman, Grape farmer from Watervliet, Michigan
Dale Schuler, Farmer from Carter, Montana
Roderick O. Dressel, Jr., Farmer from New Paltz, New York
Rep. John Shimkus (IL) to present testimony of Gale Koelling,
an Illinois corn, soybean and wheat producer
Afternoon Participants:
Kevin Moran, Western Governors Association
Dr. Michael Hayes, Climate Impact Specialist at the National
Drought Mitigation Center
Robert Hirsch, Associate Director for Water - U.S. Geological
Survey
Dr. G.A. Art Barnaby, Jr., Drought specialist at
Kansas State University
Bonner Cohen, Senior Fellow at the Lexington Institute
David Senter - Farm Aid
Jim Miller - Government Relations Representative - National
Farmers Union
Leona Dittus - Emergency Programs Coordinator, Farm Services
Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture