Due to worsening drought conditions throughout the state, emergency hay and water have been made available for family farms at Missouri state parks and Missouri Department of Conservation areas.
On May 31, Gov. Mike Parson issued Executive Order 23-05, declaring a drought alert for 60 Missouri counties, including Pettis and Johnson counties. With continuing hot, dry weather expected this summer, Parson’s office stated that other counties will be added to the alert and be eligible for assistance as they reach established drought thresholds.
“As drought conditions continue to deteriorate across Missouri, we want to do all we can to help our family farms mitigate the devastating effects of severe drought,” Parson said in a news release this week. “With the current water deficit, we know it will take a lot of rain for our state and its agricultural community to recover from the drought. While our prayers for rain continue, state government will do its part to assist wherever and whenever it can.”
According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, more than 90% of Missouri counties are experiencing drought conditions. A drought map on the DNR website shows the majority of Pettis County is experiencing extreme drought, with a small portion designated as severe drought. Central Missouri is being hit the hardest by drought.
According to information from Parson’s office issued this week, boat ramps at 25 Missouri state parks will be open for farmers to collect water. Boat ramps at 36 Missouri Department of Conservation areas are also now open for water collection.
Water may be accessed from state park and MDC boat launches/water access points during normal operational hours. Contacting MDC area managers prior to collecting water from conservation areas is required. Water is available for livestock needs only and not for resale. Farmers will need to provide their own pumping and hauling equipment.
Area drought pumping locations include Hazel Hill Lake in Johnson County, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area in Henry County, Malta Bend Community Lake in Saline County, and Manito Lake Conservation Area in Moniteau County. A map displaying locations to pump water from state boat ramps is available at mostateparks.com/drought.
Almost 700 acres are available for haying at 17 Missouri state parks. Area haying locations include Arrow Rock State Historic Site in Arrow Rock and Harry S. Truman State Park in Warsaw. Anyone interested in obtaining hay from these locations can contact the park superintendent to view the designated area. The first person who views the area and wants the hay will be issued a license to cut the hay at no cost.
Guidelines and boundaries for cutting the hay on state park property will be provided at that time. Signing a license is required before haying can begin. Missouri State Parks will allow haying on or after June 25, and hay must be removed before Sept. 25. Visit mostateparks.com/drought for more information about this opportunity.
In addition to the contracts already in place at many MDC areas across the state, other opportunities to cut hay on conservation areas may be available to assist farmers in need of hay to harvest. Anyone desiring to inquire about cutting hay on conservation areas should contact their local MDC regional office.
The Missouri Department of Transportation is assisting by offering special hay hauling permits, which can be requested through the MoDOT Carrier Express online service at www.modot.org/mce. MoDOT permits cover movement within Missouri only and are required for each truck. Questions may be directed to MoDOT’s Motor Carrier Services office at 1-800-877-8499.
The MDC is also warning of the increased risk for wildfires that drought conditions can cause.
After a high chance of precipitation on Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18 in Pettis County, weather conditions are expected to be dry next week with high temperatures reaching the low 90s.
As reports and photographs are essential tools used to assess drought conditions, the DNR encourages the public to submit information and photographs about conditions in their area.
To fill out a Condition Monitoring Observer Report, visit droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools.aspx.
For more information about drought resources and assistance, visit dnr.mo.gov/drought.
