AGRICULTURAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUB-GROUP
PLANNED MITIGATION ACTIONS
SHEET NO. 1
IMPACT |
PLANNED ACTIONS |
RESPONSIBLE AGENCY |
| Reduced livestock forage and livestock water on rangelands results in poor animal health, soil erosion and possible economic loss to ranchers | 1.
Prior to and during drought, use public information
program and on-site visits to emphasize importance of
rangeland management and planning to equalize stocking
rates with available forage and the need for permanent
water storage and distribution systems. 2. Prior to drought, use range management techniques such as reduced stocking rates, reserve pastures, removing competitive plants and stored feed to improve sustainability of rangelands under drought conditions. 3. During drought, initiate emergency forage program and/or permit grazing of CRP lands. 4. Special emphasis needs to be placed on problems of Economically Stressed Ranchers who now rely on Federal and State Grazing Leases to sustain their herds. In these areas, there needs to be a coordinated plan of action to be taken by land management agencies to provide grazing and/or supplemental feed assistance to lessees. This action may include changing federal and state grazing regulations during drought situations. 5. For long term drought conditions in areas with high concentrations of Economically Stressed Ranchers, develop supplemental natural resource employment oppurtunities to supplement income losses due to grazing restrictions. 6. Explore alternatives for establishing state funded cost-share program for water conservation measures on rangeland |
Bureau
of Land Management Forest Service, BLM, SLO Natural Resources Cons. Service Coop. Extension Service, SWCD’s Farm Bureau, Livestock Producer Organizations, NRCS, FSA, Em.Mgt., SWCD’s Ext. Service, Livestock Producer Organizations, BLM, Forest Service, NRCS, State Land Office, SWCD’s FAC’s, Forest Service, BLM, SWCD’s, Ext. Service Livestock Producer Organizations, NMOSE, NMISC |
| Reduced soil moisture on dry cropland poses economic loss to farmers and possible increased soil erosion and blowing dust | 1.
Emphasize use of crop insurance programs during high
probability drought years. 2. Prior to drought, use public information program to emphasize installation of soil and water conservation systems, including terraces, crop residue use, and contour planting. 3. Prior to and during drought situations, emphasize use of crop residue management, grassing of terraces and emergency tillage to control soil blowing. 4. Investigate use of Rainfall Enhancement Projects in target areas |
NRCS,
Ext. Service, Soil and Water Conservation Districts NMISC, SWCD’s |
| Decreased irrigation water from surface water sources prevents achieving of crop harvest potential | 1.
Emphasize adjustment of irrigated acreage to meet
expected water availability and use of crop insurance
program. 2. Prior to drought, develop local partnerships with major non-agricultural waterusers to develop alternatives for increasing available irrigation water supply by use of temporary water transfers. 3. Prior to drought, develop emergency loan program to encourage installation of on-farm water conservation measures. |
NRCS,
SWCD’s SWCD’s, NMOSE NMOSE, NMISC, NRCS, FSA |
AGRICULTURAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUB-GROUP
PLANNED MITIGATION ACTIONS
SHEET NO. 2
IMPACT |
PLANNED ACTIONS |
RESPONSIBLE AGENCY |
| Increased irrigation pumping costs from underground water sources decreases profitability of irrigated cropping system | 1.
Prior to drought, emphasize irrigation water management
techniques and develop emergency loan program to promote
installation of on-farm water conservation measures 2. Increase frequency of water level measurement program to monitor declining acquifer levels.. 3. Based on acquifer water levels, implement in metered groundwater areas emergency order to limit total pumping volume to new reduced limit. 4. Based on acquifer water levels in non-metered areas, implement emergency order to place metering devices on all wells and conform to item 3 above. 5. With metering in place, establish groundwater bank to allow emergency transfer of unused groundwater between parties. 6. Develop water conservation partnerships with underground water districts along the New Mexico-Texas stateline. 7. Emphasize use of crop insurance program in high probability drought years. |
NRCS,NMOSE,
Groundwater Cons. Districts, NMISC, SWCD’s NMOSE NMOSE NMOSE NMOSE NMOSE, NMISC, SWCD’s |
| Loss of farmers and ranchers due to drought induced bankruptcy | 1.
Encourage existing agricultural finance advisory
committees to develop emergency repayment guidelines with
banks due to drought-induced conditions. 2. Use Public Service Announcements to advertise emergency repayment guidelines and crop insurance programs. |
Agricultural
Credit Organizations, FSA, Livestock Producer
Organizations (Refer item to Tourism and Econ. Impact Sub-Group) |
| Drought induced mental anguish of farmers and ranchers resulting in increased suicides, social, and family problems | 1.
Develop working partnerships with local ministerial
alliances and county health departments to develop social
counseling and support programs. 2. Use local TV and radio outlets to implement public information program directed at reducing drought-induced mental stress. This item will be addressed by Drinking Water, Health & Energy Sub-Group. |
County health offices, local ministerial alliances, Ext. Service |
| Increased health problems for residents of areas experiencing blowing dust problems from drought ravaged agricultural lands | 1.
Develop county health programs addressing alternatives to
diminish health effects of blowing dust. This item will be adressed by Drinking Water, Health & Energy Sub-Group. |
County health offices, SWCD’s |
AGRICULTURAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUB-GROUP
PLANNED MITIGATION ACTIONS
SHEET NO. 3
IMPACT |
PLANNED ACTIONS |
RESPONSIBLE AGENCY |
| Damage to cropland and rangeland due to intrusion of wildlife species from their drought-ravaged native habitat. | 1.
Develop emergency guidelines for the emergency feeding
and watering of native wildlife in their original
habitat. 2. If needed, implement emergency control guidelines for invasion species on private cropland and rangeland. |
Fish and Game Dept.,Fish and Wildlife Service, SWCD’s, Forest Service, BLM |
| Decreased income from local dairy and feedlot operations due to drought-induced high cost of feedstocks. | 1.
Develop statewide and nationwide hotline system for
locating economical feedstock sources. 2. Investigate possible system of subsidized purchase of replacement stock from Limited Resource Producers mentioned on Sheet No. 1. |
Ext.
Service, NMDA, Producer Organizations |
| Decline in stability of local economy and tax-base due to decreased sales of agricultural support equipment and services. | 1. Develop statewide and regionwide ag. support services hotline which would emphasize outside area purchases of agricultural services and equipment from local distributors. | Ext. Service, Local Development Commissions, Local Ag. Dealer Organizations |
| Lack of available legislation that directly supports drought-induced problems for agricultural sector | 1.
Create NM Drought Advisory Board to be used as a vehicle
for legislative input and responsible for updating of
Drought Plan. 2. Create "Haybank" that could use state funds to provide emergency feed to ranching operations. 3. Create Drought Fund, similar to Irrigation Improvement Works Fund, that would have an on-going "draw account" specifically for drought-induced problems, and that could also be used to support a public information. campaign and drought-related research projects. |
Drought Task Force |