Max Baucus: “this year will mark the 7th year of drought for some parts of Montana The current drought has been disastrous, not only…”

“this year will mark the 7th year of drought for some parts of Montana The current drought has been disastrous, not only to agriculture producers, but also to the surrounding rural communities. When producers are hurting, everyone in that region huts. Main streets, die, schools close, and rural towns dry up. The economic costs are immeasurable, but the social costs are also substantial. Domestic abuse increases; suicide rates rise; People's lives are turned upside down. Drought is not something we can ignore. In Montana, agriculture accounts for over half of our economy. It's our backbone--both economically and socially. We can not ignore the drought. According to the National Drought Monitor, nearly one-third of the United States is currently experiencing 'moderate' to 'exceptional' drought. Nearly one-third of the United States is experiencing the devastating effects of drought. Yet despite the colossal economic and social costs of drought, we do not have a national drought policy. The last prolonged drought of substantial magnitude in the United States was during the 1930s. While not all of us were around during this time, we have all heard about the dust bowl years. The drought coincided with an economic downturn and rural areas were devastated. Banks closed, schools closed, main streets disappeared. Millions of people migrated to urban areas. The effects of the current drought are frighteningly similar.”