Audio Gov. Pawlenty to seek federal drought relief (story audio) Gardening expert Deb Brown provides tips for the drought Photos Dry farm fields Damaged corn More from MPR Dry conditions worry state's farmers (08/20/2003) Resources Drought Monitor USDA Minnesota Department of Agriculture Your Voice Join the conversation with other MPR listeners in the News Forum.

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Gov. Pawlenty to seek federal drought relief
by Mark Steil, Minnesota Public Radio
September 4, 2003

Farmer Jeff Redalen stands in front of damaged corn on his farm near Fountain, in southeastern Minnesota. (MPR file photo)

Gov. Pawlenty says he'll seek federal aid for Minnesota farmers coping with a late-summer drought. Pawlenty made the announcement Friday on his weekly radio show. Pawlenty says it appears that at least 50 of the state's 87 counties are suffering drought conditions. He says the paperwork will be finalized and submitted in the next couple of days.

Worthington, Minn. — It's been a rollercoaster year for state farmers. Vern Pooch says last spring he watched waves blow across flooded farm fields. But all that water disappeared. Dry, hot weather arrived in July and hasn't left. The west central Minnesota farmer says the growing season is over in his area.

	Damaged corn

"I'm seeing a lot of premature dying of the corn and bean plants. It's just been too dry, I don't think rain would even help much anymore now -- it's too late. I basically lost at least one-third of the crop, I would say," Pooch says.

He says it's the worst drought he's seen in at least 15 years. Pooch has plenty of company. Farm officials released some disheartening numbers at the drought assessment meeting in St. Paul. John Monson of the U.S. Agriculture Department says crop losses are widespread across the Minnesota.

"We received reports from all but I believe five counties. Out of the 13 million acres that have been planted to the major crops in the state, 95 percent of those acres have been affected by dryness or drought conditions," Monson says.

Monson says the drought has destroyed about 30 percent of the potential value of the crops. He puts the loss at $1.1 billion. He says the worst-hit areas include southeast, central and west central Minnesota.

It's just been too dry. I don't think rain would even help much anymore now -- it's too late. - Farmer Vern Pooch

Crop conditions continue to nose-dive. Only 33 percent of Minnesota's corn is in good or excellent shape, compared to 57 percent two weeks ago. Monson says if the state is declared a drought disaster area, farmers would be eligible for low interest loans.

Farmers aren't the only ones troubled by the drought. State fire officials say the wildfire danger is high in the southern two-thirds of Minnesota. And there's a pocket of very high danger in the Brainerd region. Already several small fires are burning, near towns like Hinckley, Cambridge and Deer River.

Parts of North and South Dakota are in the extreme fire danger category. Water levels are dropping all across the region. Flows are about half of average on major rivers like the St. Louis, Red and Minnesota. In eastern South Dakota, National Weather Service hydrologist Mike Gillispie says the Big Sioux River is almost dry.

"With no rainfall, we could be within a couple weeks of seeing no-flow on the river," says Gillispie.

Much of the Midwest has drought conditions. The widespread dryness has caused a decline in the expected size of the fall harvest. Responding to reduced supplies, grain prices have been rising. That's the only bit of good news for farmers in the dry down, but there's no chance the higher prices will make up for the lost bushels.

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