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 haven’t 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 haven’t 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 Wyoming’s 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. “It’s 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 we’ve 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).

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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