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Drought forecast looks ugly
1/8/03
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Gov. Dave Freudenthal received a grim briefing from members of the state Drought Management Task Force on what is being called one of the worst dry spells in Wyoming history.
''The drought is a much more immediate and significant threat to the economy of the region than bioterrrorism or homeland security,'' Freudenthal said afterward.
Task force members made recommendations for community assistance to deal with the drought during the meeting Wednesday.
According to statistics from state climatologist Jan Curtis:
-2002 was the state's second-driest in 108 years.
-The state has had 70 to 80 percent below-normal precipitation over the past three years.
-The state's snowpack for 2002 was one of the lowest ever seen in the state.
Curtis also predicted below-normal precipitation for January.
''We're at ground zero with this drought,'' he said.
Freudenthal used the meeting as more of a chance to educate himself about the situation than to suggest solutions.
But he said he supports changes in tax language to allow producers to defer tax on livestock sales until two years after the drought ends.
Freudenthal said he would consider reallocating money in existing appropriations toward drought management because of the consequences for the state.
''We need to encourage the federal government to recognize this as a national issue too'' he said.
Freudenthal advocated that the task force get in touch with community leaders and inform them about the drought planning they will have to do as soon as possible.
He also stressed the importance of letting the public know about drought conditions without alarming them or causing them to commit actions that won't help the situation.
The task force was chartered in 2000 by then-Gov. Jim Geringer.
Grant Stumbough of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture also painted a grim picture of the drought's impact on the state.
According to Stumbough:
-State producers have sold about 35 percent of their foundation herds.
-75 percent of range land in the state is in poor to very poor condition in terms of soil moisture and production.
-Hay production averaged 40 percent of what it normally does statewide.
-About 100,000 deer and antelope have been lost annually during the last four to five years due to drought conditions.
Stumbough, who chairs the task force's Agriculture, Natural Resources and Wildlife Subcommittee, recommended supporting a $6 billion relief package bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., in the last session of Congress.
He also suggested establishing a hay hotline, giving producers a number to call in order to buy hay, and creating a drought management brochure to let people know about available assistance.
1/8/03
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Gov. Dave Freudenthal received a grim briefing from members of the state Drought Management Task Force on what is being called one of the worst dry spells in Wyoming history.
''The drought is a much more immediate and significant threat to the economy of the region than bioterrrorism or homeland security,'' Freudenthal said afterward.
Task force members made recommendations for community assistance to deal with the drought during the meeting Wednesday.
According to statistics from state climatologist Jan Curtis:
-2002 was the state's second-driest in 108 years.
-The state has had 70 to 80 percent below-normal precipitation over the past three years.
-The state's snowpack for 2002 was one of the lowest ever seen in the state.
Curtis also predicted below-normal precipitation for January.
''We're at ground zero with this drought,'' he said.
Freudenthal used the meeting as more of a chance to educate himself about the situation than to suggest solutions.
But he said he supports changes in tax language to allow producers to defer tax on livestock sales until two years after the drought ends.
Freudenthal said he would consider reallocating money in existing appropriations toward drought management because of the consequences for the state.
''We need to encourage the federal government to recognize this as a national issue too'' he said.
Freudenthal advocated that the task force get in touch with community leaders and inform them about the drought planning they will have to do as soon as possible.
He also stressed the importance of letting the public know about drought conditions without alarming them or causing them to commit actions that won't help the situation.
The task force was chartered in 2000 by then-Gov. Jim Geringer.
Grant Stumbough of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture also painted a grim picture of the drought's impact on the state.
According to Stumbough:
-State producers have sold about 35 percent of their foundation herds.
-75 percent of range land in the state is in poor to very poor condition in terms of soil moisture and production.
-Hay production averaged 40 percent of what it normally does statewide.
-About 100,000 deer and antelope have been lost annually during the last four to five years due to drought conditions.
Stumbough, who chairs the task force's Agriculture, Natural Resources and Wildlife Subcommittee, recommended supporting a $6 billion relief package bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., in the last session of Congress.
He also suggested establishing a hay hotline, giving producers a number to call in order to buy hay, and creating a drought management brochure to let people know about available assistance.
