JEFFERSON CITY — With drought parching Missouri in three of the last five years, state officials have dug up a scheme to assist farm country during times of natural disasters.
The plan: Build more ponds.
As part of a request to Gov. Mike Parson, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources wants $10 million to provide more watering areas for livestock and dredge existing water sources to improve their viability during prolonged dry periods.
“The amount requested from general revenue should have a substantial impact in the agriculture sector, a significant economic driver in Missouri, and help sustain the agricultural industry into the future,” the administrative budget request said.
Parson, who is a farmer, spent time Wednesday hearing updated drought conditions from a panel of experts who are monitoring the state’s latest weather emergency.
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The governor predicted the financial effects of the current dry spell on ranchers will continue well into the future.
“You’re talking about a two- or three-year issue here to try and build things back up,” Parson told reporters.
Parson said his cattle farm in Bolivar, managed on a daily basis by his son, has been hit hard by the current drought, which reduced the amount of grass available for feeding his modest herd.
“He was feeding hay in July. That’s never a good scenario,” Parson said. “I know my friends down home, a lot of them have sold cattle already because they can’t afford to buy the hay and they don’t have the grass. You’re going to see more of that.”
Under Parson, the state has amped up spending on meat production as a way to grow jobs in the state. In the current budget, at least $70 million is set aside for new agriculture-related research facilities.
In 2021, the state put together a $36 million package of incentives and local subsidies to land a Wisconsin-based American Foods Group beef processing facility in Wright City, west of Ƶ. The complex is currently under construction near Interstate 70.
Under the DNR plan, grants could be made to farmers to dig additional ponds on their property, or dredge existing ponds in order to make them hold more water when rainfall is lacking.
The request by Parson’s Republican administration makes no specific mention of human-caused climate change, which has been linked to an increase in intense weather events throughout the world, ranging from forest fires to floods.
But, it does mention that extreme weather is projected to continue.
“With the increasing number of natural disasters occurring in Missouri, there is a need to provide funding to assist agricultural landowners and producers to mitigate and recover from natural disasters, as well as become more resilient to future events,” DNR said.
The effort, if endorsed by Parson in January and approved by lawmakers next May, would be administered by the department’s Missouri Geological Survey to provide assistance to landowners to improve sustainability.
“The impacts of the drought and weather extremes have put a strain on the water supply, resulting in the inability to utilize pastures and reduced feedstock for livestock producers,” DNR said.
In some cases, the department said, the drought has resulted in partial or full liquidation of cattle herds. Missouri is the No. 3 cattle-producing state, and the recent cattle sales will have a lasting impact on the Missouri agricultural industry, agency officials wrote.
Along with building ponds, there could be programs to stop soil erosion by growing cover crops.
“The proposed funding is an investment in Missouri’s economy and achieving resiliency for agricultural producers to continue producing food and fiber for consumers,” DNR said.