Without additional flexibility from the Risk Management Agency, North
Dakota Governor Doug Burgum believes the state is facing a disaster of historic proportions. One-hundred percent of the state is in some stage of drought, destroying the grass and hay supply. Burgum spoke with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this past week, seeking help from the federal government. “There’s a lot of bureaucracy in these federal programs and not a lot of nimbleness or flexibility,” said Burgum. “Sonny Perdue (former Agriculture Secretary) had the ability to cut through red tape and he made things happen from USDA within 24-to-48 hours. When people say it can’t be done, we can say Sonny Perdue got it done in 2017.” Burgum hosted a series of drought town hall meetings across the state. Grazing can now be done on a limited capacity on CRP ground across most of North Dakota. The request is into USDA to open CRP for haying before August 1.
