Is Georgia in a drought?

Posted: July 31, 2006 - 5:45am

ALBANY - Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is at odds with one of the state's top federal agricultural officials over the progress of a drought assessment that could qualify farmers for low-interest emergency loans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 48 of Alabama's 67 counties as natural disaster areas on July 5, making farmers in those counties eligible for emergency loans from the federal Farm Service Agency. Some west Georgia farmers also are eligible because their counties border some of Alabama's disaster counties.

Irvin, a Democrat facing one of his strongest re-election challenges this year, aired his drought concerns on July 21 by sending Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue an "urgent request," asking for help in getting a disaster declaration for Georgia.

Steve Newton, Georgia's Farm Service Agency director, said Friday the farming assessment is progressing on schedule, exactly as it should, and he characterized Irvin's appeal to the governor as election-year grandstanding.

"It's actually damaging," Newton said. "It makes the farmers confused by what the actual process is. He knows exactly what the process is. He's just trying to grab headlines at the farmers' expense."

But Irvin 76, who is seeking a final term before retiring, said he has requested the governor's assistance during every drought since he took office in 1969.

"Alabama is already approved and there's no reason they shouldn't move forward with Georgia," Irvin said Friday during a campaign swing through northeastern Georgia. "I don't agree that this is a political issue. It's a what's-right and what's-wrong issue."

Irvin said the drought has destroyed the state's dry-land corn crop, it's taking a toll on the cotton crop and it has forced some cattlemen to sell their herds because they can no longer feed them.

"I don't feel I have any apologies to make at all for my effort to help my farmers," Irvin said. "We do this every time we have a drought. He's trying to inject politics into a nonpolitical issue. I guess he's trying to alibi through the political system his inaction."

Newton, a Bush Administration appointee, said the assessment will be considered on Aug. 9, at the next state emergency agricultural board meeting, which he said he hoped Irvin would attend in person.

The assessment process works like this: the state FSA office asks agricultural officials in Georgia's 159 counties to check for drought damages to crops, pastures and other farming enterprises. That information is forwarded to the state FSA office in Athens, where it is reviewed by the board, which includes representatives of various USDA agencies, the University of Georgia, the Extension Service and Irvin's department.

If the board members decide there's an agricultural disaster, their recommendations are forwarded to the governor for his approval. Once the governor signs off on it, the FSA sends them to the secretary of agriculture, who can issue a disaster declaration.

The Farm Service Agency manages the federal commodity program and works with farmers in determining the amount of payments they will receive.

The surveys are important because, in addition to qualifying farmers for low interest loans, Congress often relies on them when deciding whether to appropriate millions of dollars in disaster relief funds.

Where it's dry

The U.S. Drought Monitor, a collaborative effort of several federal agencies, including the National Weather Service, rates most of Georgia as in a moderate to severe drought. The least affected area is a strip along the Georgia coast, classified as abnormally dry. Annual rainfall deficits range from 6 to 9 inches for most of the state, but are as high as 20 inches in a few areas.

The hot, dry weather has taken a greater toll on Alabama, with most of the state in severe to extreme drought.

- The Associated Press

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