Dusty Johnson: “extreme weather conditions pounded much of South Dakota in 2005, leaving nearly 60 out of the State's 66 counties…”

“extreme weather conditions pounded much of South Dakota in 2005, leaving nearly 60 out of the State's 66 counties eligible for Federal disaster aid. Many family farmers and ranchers have had little reprieve from the previous year of harsh weather conditions, as blizzards and drought have already hampered the 2006 production year. On top of natural disasters, low commodity prices and skyrocketing energy costs are forcing producers to make tough decisions in order to keep their operations afloat. I believe we can do more to help ease the burdens that our producers bear, and I want to draw the Senate's attention to a handful of South Dakota counties devastated by natural disaster in 2005 and into 2006. In 2005, 59 South Dakota counties were included in Presidential or Secretarial emergency declarations as either primary or contiguous disaster counties. These counties experienced natural disasters such as drought, high winds, extreme heat, flash flooding, hail, prairie fires, spring frost, severe storms, and blizzards. For example, 2005 marked the fourth consecutive year of experiencing drought conditions in central South Dakota, including Hand, Hughes, Hyde, Stanley, and Sully counties. Inadequate snowfall, meager spring rains, high temperatures, and desolating winds led to sparse pastures and a lack of forage crops necessary for feeding livestock. Without adequate precipitation, producers were forced to reduce the size of their livestock herds.…”