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Gov. Burgum Announces Plan for COVID Funds

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North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has unveiled the Accelerate North Dakota plan to use federal funds from the American Rescue Plan. This plan includes $207 million in income tax relief over the next two years. There’s $396 million for workforce and economic development projects, including money for livestock finishing and processing and support for autonomous agriculture. Another $590 million will be invested in capital improvements, including roads, bridges and broadband.

Drought Townhalls Held

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North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring hosted town hall meetings Wednesday and Thursday. During the meeting, farmers, ranchers and other area residents in the Washburn, Rugby and Medora areas discussed the challenges created by extreme drought conditions. Leadership reviewed the state’s response and answered questions. More than two-thirds of North Dakota is in extreme or exceptional drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor.
 
The meetings were livestreamed on the governor’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GovernorDougBurgum/. For information on drought relief resources, visit www.ndresponse.gov.

ND Officials Submit Secretarial Disaster Request

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North Dakota has requested a Secretarial disaster designation for 47 out of 53 counties in the state. Governor Doug Burgum, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, the state Farm Service Agency and others sent the request to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Friday. The nine-page letter asks for federal assistance to be made available, estimating farmers have lost nearly $423 million for just the one crop in each county at least 30 percent loss. In addition, billions of dollars in additional crop and livestock value still at risk.” Testimony gathered from the recent townhall meetings across North Dakota was included in the request.

North Dakota Exploring Options to Assist Farmers

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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to report crop losses or any other damage associated with the wet fall and recent blizzard to county-based NDSU Extension agents. That information will be shared to help the state prepare a Secretarial disaster declaration. A Presidential disaster declaration will also likely be sought. Once submitted, it will take several weeks for disaster declaration these approvals.
 
Additionally, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring will be in Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown and Fessenden on Monday, October 21. The team will visit these flood-affected areas to look at damage and losses for federal disaster requests, as well as visit with farmers, ranchers and officials. Get the full schedule.

North Dakota Explores Options to Assist Ag Sector

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In a joint statement, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said they are exploring every avenue to assist farmers and ranchers due to the early snowstorm and extremely wet conditions. A Secretarial Disaster Declaration is a possibility. Goehring has voiced concern to USDA about quality discounts on grain. Burgum and Goehring also encouraged farmers to seek help if they’re overwhelmed by farm stress. Read more.