Drought Prompts Disaster Declaration Request

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Farmer Marshall Williams

WOODBURY, Tenn. - Dry conditions are prompting Gov. Phil Bredesen to ask for a federal disaster declaration in more than two dozen counties.

The summer of 2007 was one of the driest on record in many parts of Tennessee. There was more rainfall this past summer, but it just hasn't been enough.

For the second year in a row, some farmers again are digging deep into their pocket books just to survive.

In Cannon County, it's almost as if the ground is screaming out for moisture. A herd of Angus cattle headed for water pumped out of a well. But the well water isn't used to grow the grass in the pasture, which is the food cattle like to eat.

"I came here in 2002 and took over the family farm from my father-in-law," said Marshall Williams.

For the second straight year his cattle cannot graze. There has been very little rain in Cannon County, and therefore no grass.

"This should be knee high right now and you can see what this is, it's just not growing," he said.

So, Williams and many other cattle farmers are feeding hay they've stored since the spring to their herds four months earlier than normal.

In some cases, things have gotten so bad farmers such as Fred Adams are forced to sell their cattle.

"Last year we sold about half or cows to get through the winter, just didn't have any hay," he said.

The drought prompted Bredesen to ask the federal government to declare disasters in 28 Tennessee counties. State officials said farmers in these counties have reported crop losses as much as 35 to 70 percent.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture rated nearly three quarters of the state's pastures in very poor to just fair condition.

"The only thing cattle will be eating will be put in front of them. They won't be getting anything out of the crops off the hay," Williams said.

Williams has already signed up for disaster relief. He said federal financial assistance will help, but what he really needs no one can buy -- rain.

"We haven't had any rain," he said.

If the USDA declares disasters in these counties farmers will be able to apply for federal assistance. That assistance includes low interest loans. Cannon County farmers received nearly $700,000 from the state this year to prepare for future droughts. The program includes financial help to build facilities to store feed and hay.