N.D. Gov: NDSU Assessment Points to Need for Disaster Aid for Producers

September 13, 2004

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven said an economic impact assessment completed by North Dakota State University at his request points to the urgent need for disaster aid for North Dakota producers.

The assessment showed direct crop losses of $530 million and net losses of $329 million after factoring in covered losses by the federal multi-peril crop insurance.

Damages to the state’s producers are attributed to weather-related disasters, ranging from drought in the southwestern portion of North Dakota to flooding in the northeast and frost across significant portions of the state.

“We’ve been working on disaster assistance for our producers since earlier this summer, and as a result, last month we secured a secretarial disaster declaration,” Hoeven said. “NDSU’s quantification of the economic impact now gives us further support, and we will continue to press for assistance through the USDA and a farm disaster bill.”