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 U.S. Drought
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A message from Governor Dave Heineman: I welcome you to Drought Central, Nebraska's drought management web resource. From this location you should be able to find answers to your questions about agriculture assistance, human resource information and general drought management tips. This site was built based on questions, comments and concerns voiced by Nebraskans who have contacted us during the past drought situations. It will be updated regularly to accommodate new information. If you can't find it here, or if you want your resource information posted, contact the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 800.422.6692 or email us at agr.drought@nebraska.gov |
Agriculture Drought Disaster Program Opportunities
The links found here will give agricultural producers an idea of available federal assistance
programs.
Agricultural Assistance Act of 2007
On May 25, 2007, President Bush signed into law the "U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007" (2007 Act).The 2007 Act provides approximately $3 billion in agricultural disaster aid for America's farmers and ranchers. The aid will cover crop losses, livestock and feed losses, emergency conservation practices and dairy losses.
You are eligible for this new disaster aid if:
- Your county was declared a disaster area by the President or Secretary of Agriculture for disasters occurring between January 1, 2005 and February 28, 2007 (livestock). A listing of current disaster designations can be found at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's website by clicking here. All Nebraska counties either received a USDA Secretary of Agriculture disaster designation, or was contiguous to a disaster county, within the timeframe outlined by the 2007 Act. See below for map of 2006 disaster designations.
- You experienced a loss of 35 percent or greater. (crops)
- You had crop insurance or coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). (crops)
For more information on this package of aid, please click here.
In March 2005, Governor Dave Heineman signed an agreement with USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Floyd Gaibler to create the Nebraska Platte-Republican Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). This program pays land owners in a targeted area to place irrigated crop acres into non-irrigated conservation cover under 10- to 15-year contracts. This is the first CREP in the nation designed with a goal of addressing water quantity challenges. For more information on this program, please click here.
In response to the drought, Governor Dave Heineman is coordinating with Nebraska Farm Service Agency officials and other appropriate individuals to submit counties to the United States Department of Agriculture for secretarial drought disaster designations. A secretarial disaster designation provides affected producers with access to an emergency low-interest loan program and opens the door to the FSA disaster set-aside program, which allows existing FSA direct loan borrowers to delay payment if they are unable to do so as a result of a disaster. It also provides access to the Small Business Administration disaster loan program for affected businesses, and it provides documentation for the Internal Revenue Service allowing producers to defer income on forced livestock sales due to the disaster. The designation can also be used to determine county eligibility for other disaster FSA programs.
Livestock Forage and Feeding Resources
The links found below will help you access available information on hay or forage supplies,
feedlot options, nonfat dry milk feeding guidelines, and ongoing forage and feed donation
programs.
Agriculture Producer Drought Management Resources
There are specific income tax implications in culling and/or liquidating cattle in a drought year. Producers should contact a tax consultant for advice. For general background, this link will take you to the 2006 Farmer's Tax Guide. Information can be found in Chapter 11, under "Other Involuntary Conversions" and "Postponing Gain."
Grasshopper Management Resources
Human Services Resources
The links found below will assist you in finding a variety of personal program opportunities,
such
as stress counseling, financial counseling, food pantries, and legal services. Some of
these services are available at low or no cost to those in need.
Charitable Organizations Working on Drought Assistance
A number of charitable groups are working both independently and in groups to provide
assistance to Nebraskans dealing with drought.
Small Business Drought Disaster Information
General Public Drought Management Tips
These links will take you to ideas on how to manage drought through water conservation at
home, what to do with your lawn, and other general drought management tips. Also found
below
is the weekly report from Nebraska's Health and Human Services System on community water
restrictions.
Other Drought Resources and Contacts
Climate Assessment Response Committee Minutes - March 20, 2009
NAP Program Fact Sheet
News Announcements
2007
Files in PDF format can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
