Water, hay assistance available to Mid-Missouri farmers
BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Some farmers may need help after a drought last summer and now one to start this summer.
Mid-Missouri farms continue to feel the strain because of the lack of water. According to the most recent drought report published, over 90% of the state has abnormally dry drought conditions.
John George -- wildlife regional supervisor with the Missouri Department of Conservation – told ABC 17 News the water and hay relief that Gov. Mike Parson put into effect early this week may not solve the problem, but it can help some farmers make it through the summer.
The governor declared a "drought alert" last month for 60 counties including more than a dozen in Mid-Missouri.
"We had a small drought last summer. And we've never really gotten the relief through the fall, winter and spring that usually comes,” George said. “So this year might be doubly hard on some people."
Finding enough hay and water for farmers in Mid-Missouri will only get harder if the heat and lack of rain continues. With the governor's emergency water and hay access, George said it won't solve the water problems for the region but helping one farmer will do.
“I mean, it's all cumulative,” he said. “So this hopefully, like I said, is enough of a spur to, to at least a few individuals to get them over the hump.”
For farmers there are multiple locations in Boone County to access water, including Lick Creek and Tri-City Lake.
When water levels in these state parks get too low, city lakes will not be an option for the Department of Conservation.
“We manage the fishery, the city parks usually manage those lakes,” George said. “So we're not the authority to give water from those.”
George told ABC 17 News that the Department of Conservation will monitor the water levels in lakes and water access points and will close off those water access if needed.
Water Access can be viewed in a map below. Water is available for livestock needs only and not for resale, according to the Missouri State Parks website. Farmers will need to provide their own pumping and hauling equipment. Water is accessible during normal park hours.
Haying locations can be found in the map -- provided by Missouri State Parks -- below.
