025-0541CY' . Cptr
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RESOLUTION
REQUESTING FREDERICK COUNTY BE DECLARED
AS DROUGHT DISASTER COUNTY
WHEREAS, the extended drought conditions in the County of Frederick have
severely affected farmers; and
WHEREAS, during the 2005 growing season, the County of Frederick has
received considerably less rain than normal while experiencing unseasonably high
temperatures; and
WHEREAS, estimated losses of pasture agricultural crops are greater than 30%
and losses for individual crops range from 15% to 30% for crops such as small grains,
hay, alfalfa and apples; and
WHEREAS, Frederick County farmers need federal assistance in responding to
their losses as the result of extreme dry weather.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Frederick County Board
of Supervisors that the County Administrator is hereby directed to submit to Governor
Mark Warner a request for assistance in obtaining federal disaster designation for
Frederick County, which will make available federal assistance to Frederick County
farmers who have experienced crop damage and losses due to the excessive heat and
on-going drought.
ADOPTED this 26`h day of October, 2005.
VOTE:
Richard C. Shickle
Gary W. Dove
Bill M. Ewing
Gene E. Fisher
Resolution No.: 025-05
~_ Gina A. Forrester Ave
AX? Linda J. Tyler Abe
n~ Barbara E. Van Osten A,~
Aye
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~j'"
John iley, Jr., CI
Board of Supervisors
County of Frederick, VA
October 27, 2005
The Honorable Mark R. Warner
Governor
Commonwealth of Virginia
State Capitol Building, Third Floor
Capitol Square
Richmond, VA 23219
Dear Governor Warner:
of FREDERICK
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
540/665-5666
Fax 540/667-0370
E-mail:
jriley C~co.frederick.va.us
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors, meeting in regular session on October 26, 2005,
approved the enclosed resolution requesting that Frederick County, Virginia be designated as a
drought disaster county. Your assistance in helping to designate same is respectfully requested.
Should you need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely,
~. ~ {~,1
(;
~~
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
JRR/tjp
Enclosure
cc: Cynthia Marston, Extension Agent
J. Carlton C.ourter, III, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Jacquelin Easter, Director, Virginia State Farm Service Agency
C.'~TJP\extension\Letters\GovWarnerDroughtDesignation(102605BdM(g).wpd
107 North Kent Street Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000
v ~Te~i Virginia Cooperative Extension ~ °
® ~~
VIItGINIA POLYTECHNICINSTITUTE / ~NCe ~`
AND STATE UNIVERSITY VIRGINIA STATE LfiRVERSTTY
Richard Shickle, Chairman
Frederick County Board of Supervisors
County Administration Building
107 N. Kent Street
Winchester, VA 22601
Dear Mr. Shickle,
Frederick County Office
107 N. Kent Street
Winchester, Virginia 22601
Voice: 540/665-5699
Fax: 540/722-8380
October 17, 2005 ~ ___
'
~ ~_~ i
(`~ OCT 2005
1 Frederick Gountu
~`- Administrator' ffice -`
B
\ y
._
\~` .Y ;,
This is to notify the Frederick County Board of Supervisors in Accordance with Section 3.1 - 22.15 of the Code of Virginia,
of severe drought conditions. Frederick County has gone through a most unusual growing season with the ups and downs of
rainfall and heat. Drought conditions have existed sporadically in the county throughout the summer, with the most severe
locations being localized in the extreme northwestern part of the County and the Middletown/Stephens City areas.
With the understanding that there is great variability in growing conditions for Frederick County farms, and that losses
sustained by farmers will vary greatly from farm to farm, it is estimated that the vast majority of Frederick County farms have
suffered loss in pasture yield. On average it is believed that summer pasture was reduced by 30%. This 30% loss estimate
was determined by comparing the total days in the grazing period to the number of days that required supplemental feeding.
Though some localized farms may show substantial losses for grass hay, alfalfa, corn, soybeans, apples, and small grains of
30°/a or greater than the county average, I believe that these crops did not suffer substantial county wide losses. However,
some stand loss for pasture and hay crops has occurred which will require re-seeding and rehabilitation of this acreage to
bring it back into production.
It is important to understand that before a county can be declared for an agriculture disaster, and producers eligible for
assistance from USDA, losses for a crop throughout the county must be at ]east 30% of the USDA five-year average. This
"loss" test is often difficult to show because the five-year county average is considerably lower than the "good" farm yield
that can be attained in an average year.
Because of the agricultural situation created by the drought, I recommend that the Frederick County Board of Supervisors
consider declaring an agricultural emergency. If you do declaze an emergency, it is recommended that you do so by
Resolution, and then forwazd it with a cover letter to the Governor requesting a Declaration of Emergency for Frederick
County. Please send a copy of the Resolution and request to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
J. Carlton Courter III, Commissioner, 1100 Bank Street, Richmond, VA 23219, and Virginia State Farm Service Agency,
Jacquelin Easter, Executive Director, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Culpeper Building, Suite 138, Richmond VA 23229.
Sincerely,
cc: John Riley, County Administrator
Cynthia Marston
Extension Agent, Unit Coordinator
vvvvw.ext.vt.edu
Extension is ojoint program of VirginiaTech,Virginio State University, the U.S. Department ofAgricuhure, and state and local governments.
Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open [o all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion,
age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
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