USDA Designates 25 Counties Primary Natural Disaster Areas

WASHINGTON, March 30, 2017 — In response to a request from Brian Haugen, Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) acting State Executive Director in North Dakota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 25 counties in North Dakota as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by multiple disasters that occurred in the 2016 crop year.

Disaster Number 1:  USDA has designated Adams, Billings, Emmons, Golden Valley, Grant, Sioux, Slope and Stark counties in North Dakota as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that occurred from April 1, 2016, through Oct. 1, 2016.

Farmers and ranchers in Bowman, Burleigh, Dunn, Hettinger, Kidder, Logan, McIntosh, McKenzie, Mercer and Morton counties in North Dakota also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Montana and South Dakota also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Montana: Fallon and Wibaux

South Dakota: Campbell, Corson, Harding and Perkins

Disaster Number 2:  USDA has designated 15 counties in North Dakota as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by excessive rain, high winds, tornados and hail that occurred from Jan. 1, 2016, through Nov. 15, 2016. Those counties are:

Benson	McIntosh	Steele
Burke	McKenzie	Towner
Cavalier	Pembina	Traill
Divide	Ramsey	Walsh
Grand Forks	Rolette	Ward

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in North Dakota also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Barnes	Dunn	LaMoure	Nelson
Billings	Eddy	Logan	Pierce
Bottineau	Emmons	McHenry	Renville
Cass	Golden Valley	McLean	Wells
Dickey	Griggs	Mountrail	Williams

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Minnesota: Kittson, Marshall, Norman and Polk

Montana: Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan and Wibaux

South Dakota: Campbell and McPherson

Disaster Number 3:  USDA has designated Hettinger and Oliver counties in North Dakota as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by frost and freeze followed by excessive heat that occurred from March 15, 2016, through June 15, 2016.

Farmers and ranchers in Adams, Burleigh, Grant, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Slope and Stark counties in NorthDakota also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Feb. 15, 2017, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for FSA’s low emergency (EM) loans, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

Other FSA programs that can provide assistance, but do not require a disaster declaration, include Operating and Farm Ownership Loans; the Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program;Livestock Indemnity Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program; and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA service centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

Spring burning restrictions begin today

With warm temperatures, little to no snow and dry vegetation, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will start spring burning restrictions in parts of the state today. As conditions for wildfires increase, exposed dead grass and brush can light easily and burn quickly, especially in windy conditions.

To find burning restrictions for different areas, go to mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions or call a local DNR Forestry office. Fire conditions may change quickly. So, be sure to check before burning.

During spring restrictions, the state will not give out burning permits for burning brush or yard waste. Debris burning is especially dangerous in April and May when most wildfires occur in Minnesota. Residents are encouraged to use alternatives to burning such as composting or hauling brush to a collection site. 

“Burning restrictions for southern and central Minnesota will begin on Friday, March 31,” said Linda Gormanson, DNR burn permit coordinator. “We anticipate that north-central Minnesota restrictions will start Monday, April 3, and the rest of the state will follow.”

The restrictions usually last four to six weeks until sufficient green growth occurs. These spring restrictions have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number and size of fires the DNR responds to each year.

Burning restrictions do not apply to campfires, they are still allowed. Clear an area around the campfire, watch it continuously and make sure it is out cold to the touch before leaving.

Rep. Kiel & Sen. Johnson Town Hall Schedule

SAINT PAUL, MINN—Rep. Deb Kiel, R-Crookston, and Sen. Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, announced six joint town halls next month. Additionally, Rep. Dan Fabian, R-Roseau and Rep. Steve Green, R-Fosston will also be attending at select locations.

The town halls will provide an opportunity for residents to meet with their local legislators, hear about the 2017 legislative session and ask questions. The meetings are open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.

Below is the town hall schedule: 

Fertile Town Hall

Where: City Hall, Senior Citizens’ Room, 101 S. Mill Street

When: Monday, April 10, 2017

Time: 8:00 AM

Attending: Rep. Kiel and Sen. Johnson

Fosston Town Hall

Where: Civic Center, Meeting Room, 215 1^st Street East

When: Monday, April 10, 2017

Time: 11:30 AM

Attending: Rep. Kiel, Rep. Green and Sen. Johnson

Red Lake Falls Town Hall

Where: City Hall, Conference Room, 108 2^nd Street SW

When: Monday, April 10, 2017

Time: 3:00 PM

Attending: Rep. Kiel and Sen. Johnson

Crookston Town Hall

Where: Irishman’s Shanty, 1501 S. Main Street

When: Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Time: 8:00 AM

Attending: Rep. Kiel and Sen. Johnson

Thief River Falls Town Hall

Where: City Hall, Council Chambers, 405 Third Street East

When: Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Time: 11:30 AM

Attending: Rep. Kiel, Rep. Fabian and Sen. Johnson

East Grand Forks Town Hall

Where: City Hall, Training Room, 600 DeMers Avenue

When: Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Time: 8:00 AM

Attending: Rep. Kiel and Sen. Johnson

Burning permits required for open burning

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds landowners that burning permits are required for all open burning in the Bemidji Forestry area.

Open burning includes large bonfires, brush piles or fields. Burning permits are for vegetative material only, such as grass, brush or wood. The permit does not allow burning asphalt shingles, tires or other non-vegetative materials.

Campfires up to three feet in diameter do not require a permit.

If you lose control of your fire and it becomes a wildfire, you will be responsible for the costs of fighting it. Be careful when you burn. Don’t let your fire become a wildfire.

Remember, burning permits are required for all open burning when there is less than three inches of snow on the ground. Fire danger is often high in the spring and may increase quickly over the next few weeks. Because of these conditions, the DNR has restricted burning in many counties.

Please check conditions/restrictions with your local DNR Forestry office, local fire warden or online at www.mn.dnr.gov.