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Today, July 2, the United States Department of Agriculture declared that a large portion of Montana entered D2 or “Severe” drought conditions. This drought is more than just a different color on a map, Farmer Dick Erb says the effect of drought is already impacting his crops.

"I farm 240 acres, and raise hay in Moise up in the Mission Valley, Erb Said. We have a very large irrigation project, 130,000 acres and we are basically almost out of water. Suddenly, it's a crisis."

Montana Department of Agriculture Spokesman Jayson O’Neill says that if D2 conditions persist, it could trigger an emergency declaration by the Department of the Interior.

"There is an automatic trigger that goes into effect if a county has been in that D2, severe drought designation for eight weeks. Missoula, Mineral, Ravalli, Flathead, Lincoln, Sanders, all the way over to Powell... there are several counties that have entered severe drought designation this first week of July."

O’Neill says that an emergency declaration could possibly be announced early by interior secretary Vilsack, such an announcement would allow federal funds to flow to counties to help recover. Emergency drought declarations were part of the most recent Farm Bill.

 

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