A First-Hand Look

A First-Hand Look:

By Governor Mike Johanns

Dear Nebraska Neighbors:

I visited western Nebraska last week to hear and see first-hand how farmers and ranchers are coping with the drought. I'm pleased to share with you some of my observations regarding the impact of the drought and my latest efforts to access assistance. Equally important to me is the opportunity to share a thought or two about the resilience and optimism I encountered amid worsening conditions.

Initially, I was glad to see that recent rains had brought back some of the green to the fields and ditches. However, as I walked through several pastures I realized that the green was merely a topcoat covering some very dry land.

As I talked with folks in Lexington, Sidney, Alliance and Scottsbluff, it was clear to me that the small amount of rain that had fallen won't have much lasting impact as we head into the typically hot and dry summer months of July and August. There is no question that Nebraska, along with nearly every western state, is in the grip of a very serious drought.

I spent a good part of the day talking with producers to learn what more I could do on their behalf. Their suggestions were of great help and I appreciate their input. When I returned to the Capitol, I sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman asking her to consider additional programs to assist western Nebraska producers with increased drought relief-efforts.

I mentioned a few specific possibilities in the letter such as the Livestock Compensation Program, as well as the Crop Disaster and Livestock Assistance programs. One program that holds some very real possibilities for Nebraska producers is the Nonfat Dry Milk Feed Assistance Program, which has proven extremely beneficial over the past two years.

Unfortunately, the 2004 qualifications require counties to be classified in the D-4 category on the U.S. Drought Monitor prior to May 18, which excludes all of Nebraska. So, I asked Secretary Veneman to reconsider the May 18 cut-off date to allow Nebraska producers in the most severely drought-damaged counties to participate in the Nonfat Milk Feed program.

I am grateful to Secretary Veneman for responding to my requests for drought disaster designations and the release of Conservation Reserve Program acres. Producers in twenty eight counties now qualify for emergency grazing. My hope is that Secretary Veneman will be equally responsive to my latest request.

Having said that, I want to take a moment to talk about the attitudes I encountered at every stop. I've long known that farmers and ranchers are not easily shaken by any one thing, but I must admit that I expected a fifth year of drought to dry-up some of the optimism that I have grown accustomed to whenever I visit.

I found it somewhat remarkable that our somber conversations about the impact of the drought almost always ended with optimism about the future. Even as their source of income withers away for another year, they find reasons to smile and predict better years ahead. I am enormously impressed by the resilience of Nebraska's farmers and ranchers, and I applaud their spirit.

As I traveled home, I couldn't help but reflect on the optimism I had witnessed throughout the day. It is part of the fabric of this great state and I want to publicly commend all those who so graciously reminded me of that.

As resilient as they may be, I remain committed to exploring new avenues to access additional assistance. Mitigating the impact of the drought remains a priority in my administration. I will continue to closely monitor conditions throughout the summer and do what I can to bring relief to those affected by the drought in our "Nebraska United."