For Immediate Release:
August 25, 2003

Holden Asks for Drought Assistance

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Bob Holden today asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to declare 39 Missouri counties disasters due to prolonged drought conditions so that Missouri farmers can access federal drought assistance

"Almost three quarters of the state’s corn crop is in poor to very poor condition, and the soybean crop is following suit with half of the crop reported to be in poor or very poor condition," Holden said. "Pastures for livestock grazing are all but depleted and ponds are drying up. We must have some relief. If it won’t come in the form of rain, we’ll have to ask for it in disaster aid."

Holden said many farmers are facing crop and livestock losses for the second straight year because of drought conditions. Areas in northwest Missouri are classified as being in extreme drought, while much of the western and west-central regions range from moderate to severe drought

For Immediate Release:
September 18, 2003

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Bob Holden has asked Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon and Chief of Water Resources Mike Wells to represent the state at a meeting in South Dakota about the future management of the Missouri River

In the past, all plans that have been proposed from the upper basin states have included an unacceptably high level of water retention in the upstream reservoirs that would result in harmful impacts to both Missouri and Mississippi River commerce even in times when drought does not exist. Gov. Holden was joined recently by the Governors of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois in expressing concern to President Bush about changes in Missouri River management.