Max Baucus: “last year the U.S. experienced the most severe and extensive drought in at least 25 years. While the impacts of the…”

“last year the U.S. experienced the most severe and extensive drought in at least 25 years. While the impacts of the drought affected both crop and livestock sectors, our commodity farmers have had some protection under crop insurance. With the House not passing a 5 year reauthorization of the Farm Bill last year, we have left one sector of agriculture to fend for themselves. Our ranchers across the country and in my home State of Montana have experienced the most extensive drought since the 1950. About 80 percent of agricultural land experienced drought in 2012. As last year came and went, a drought stretched across the United States. Wheat and corn fields dried up. Without enough forage, ranchers faced the decision to either to sell their herds or purchase extra feed, cutting into their thin margins. As of this week, over 2,000 counties have been designated as drought disaster areas by the USDA. In my state of Montana, 36 counties, or well over half of our State, are in disaster. Compound that with one of the worst droughts in recent history and our cattle and sheep producers are hanging on by a thread. Where our corn, wheat, and soybean farmers have crop insurance as a backstop, we have left our ranchers without any assistance. Pastureland last year was scarce and the cost of feed, when it was even available, was often unaffordable. Many ranchers are responding by culling their herds.…”