Gov. Doug Burgum, in coordination with Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and other state and federal agencies, requested a secretarial disaster designation on Sep. 13 for 47 North Dakota counties to provide federal assistance to agricultural producers facing extremely wet harvest conditions.
The request comes after excessive rain, an early October snowstorm, widespread flooding, and high winds caused significant losses for farmers and ranchers across the state. According to estimates reported to the federal Farm Service Agency (FSA), commodity losses have reached nearly $423 million for just one crop in each affected county, with billions more at risk. These figures do not include substantial livestock losses also experienced by cattle ranchers.
“We’re committed to making sure North Dakota’s farmers and ranchers have access to every available resource to cope with these unprecedented and miserably wet fall harvest conditions,” Burgum said. “Secretary Perdue has been very responsive and understanding of the extremely difficult situation facing our ag producers, and we appreciate his consideration of a disaster designation to help them through these stressful times.”
Goehring said: “The unusual and relentless wet weather pattern has created an overwhelming situation for many North Dakota farmers and ranchers. It has been one of the toughest seasons on record. We appreciate the help of the delegation, FSA and other agencies in requesting this designation; and we thank Secretary Perdue for his consideration in order to provide access to federal resources for our producers.”
To qualify for a secretarial designation, a county must experience at least a 30 percent production loss of one crop due to natural disaster; currently, 45 out of 53 counties meet that threshold. Morton and Billings counties are also eligible because they cannot secure commercial financing despite lower percentage losses. Six additional counties are seeking more time before their eligibility is determined.
A secretarial disaster declaration would allow implementation of FSA’s Emergency Farm Loan Program as well as the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Loan Program related to farm businesses. The Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program+ (WHIP+) is also available under certain circumstances involving presidential or secretarial declarations from qualifying disasters such as flooding or snowstorms.
Twenty-two counties have declared emergencies related to recent severe weather events along with several cities across North Dakota; Burgum declared a statewide flood emergency on Oct. 21.
Burgum and Goehring have also urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release Market Facilitation Program payments scheduled for November as soon as possible while continuing efforts “to look at solutions for other situations that may not be covered by a secretarial designation,” Goehring said.
The North Dakota Grain Growers Association obtains funding through membership dues from farmers while promoting economic vitality through advocacy work including education programs statewide in collaboration with groups like the Midwest Council on Agriculture, according to the official website.
