Monday, September 10, 2012

Missouri governor extends drought state of emergency for 45 days - @FOX2now

Dry Days

NEOSHO, MO (KTVI) – Governor Jay Nixon extended the state of emergency for Missouri an extra 45 days. He originally declared in the state of emergency in July because of the heat, fire risk and prolonged drought impacting the state.

The state of emergency now is in effect until November 15.

The Governor also extended the deadline to help Missouri livestock producers and farmers complete water projects approved under the drought relief program.

Since late July, more than 5,800 water projects have been approved under the emergency cost-share program to drill new wells, deepen existing wells or undertake other projects to get water to animals and crops.

More than 4,400 projects have been completed, are under construction, or have been scheduled for construction.

More than 11,000 applications were submitted to the state in just a two-week period, of which more than 5,800 were approved.

The program covers 90 percent of the cost of the emergency water project, such as digging or deepening a well or connecting a farm to a rural water supply. The producer or farmer pays the remaining 10 percent. The average allocation per approved livestock project is approximately $4,800.

Funding for this emergency program comes from unallocated reserve funds provided by the State Soil & Water Districts Commission and state resources made available through House Bill 8, which provides the Governor the authority to direct funds for “responding during a declared emergency at the direction of the Governor, provided the services furnish immediate aid and relief.”