Little moisture prompts drought declaration

Navajo County did not receive significant moisture in 2017 to alleviate drought conditions that affect the livestock, farming and tourism, which has had an impact on many local economies.
By declaring a drought state of emergency for Navajo County, the board of supervisors hope it will prompt the secretary of agriculture to designate it as such, therefore making emergency loans available to producers suffering losses in the county.
Mark Carlisle, president of the Navajo County Cattlemen’s Association, said he was reluctant to ask the county for an emergency declaration.
“I kinda have a hard time ringing the government’s bell and asking for help for a private business.
I just don’t feel good about it, but everyone benefits from helping food producers,” he said.
If you can’t produce enough to feed yourself, you really have no power.” The 2017 Arizona Drought Preparedness Annual Report indicates Navajo County as one of the driest areas, with a 16 percent forage loss as of September 2017.
Despite a smattering of raindrops early Tuesday morning in Holbrook, and some rains across the area later this week, the outlook from the National Weather Service indicates above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for the remainder of the winter.
“Due to the continuing drying conditions, we ask that the board pass an emergency resolution declaring a drought emergency in Navajo County,” Springer told the board.
Shelby Johnson, county executive director for Arizona Farm Agency, said 100 percent of funding is determined by the drought monitor.
Being a D3, it should have automatically triggered a payment for all of Navajo County.” In addition to emergency loan eligibility, other emergency assistance programs, such as Farm Service Agency disaster assistance programs, have historically used such designations and declarations as an eligibility trigger.

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