Governor Huntsman Signs Agricultural
Disaster Declaration

Utah Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., signed a Declaration of Agricultural Disaster for Washington and Iron Counties. The declaration sets in motion an official request for assistance from the United States Secretary of Agriculture for appropriate funding to be made available to each impacted landowner in each county.

"This is a situation where irrigation systems have been washed out and farm areas are now covered with debris and sediment," said Governor Huntsman. "Without assistance soon, there will be a loss of valuable crops this year."

According to the Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, damage estimates are approximately $5 million. The extremely high water levels on the Virgin River, Santa Clara River, Ash Creek and Shoal Creek left more than 5,000 acres of land covered with debris and sediment. The flooding waters also damaged earthen and concrete ditches, concrete and metal pipelines, wheel lines, and other irrigation water delivery systems. A small number of farms had their soils eroded away and now the farmlands are part of a new river channel.

"We are pleased that Governor Huntsman has signed the declaration," said Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham. "We hope this will help expedite the financial aid and other assistance from the Federal Government."

A response from the Secretary of Agriculture is anticipated within the next 30 days. Most of the aid would be in the form of low interest loans from the USDA.

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Daggett and Uintah Counties Eligible for USDA Emergency Loans Due to Drought

On January 10, 2005, then USDA Secretary Veneman designated several counties in Colorado eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loans due to production losses. Those losses were a result of drought, hail and freezing temperatures that occurred at various times in 2004. The designation makes all qualified family-sized farm operators eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA-Farm Service Agency.

Neighboring Utah counties qualify for aid

Farmers/Ranchers in Daggett and Uintah counties can apply for an emergency loan to cover part of their actual losses and must apply by September 12, 2005. To be eligible, producers must have suffered a 30 percent loss of normal production, be able to repay the loan and other existing debt, be unable to get credit elsewhere, have adequate security, and must have obtained multi-peril crop insurance or have signed an insurance waiver. Each application will be considered on its own merit.

Contact your local USDA-FSA office for more information.

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State Manager or Employee of the Year Awards

Do you work with an employee who goes the extra mile? Is your supervisor a real peach? Then take a moment to nominate them for either the Manager of the Year Award or the Employee of the Year Award. The department is now accepting nominations for the Outstanding State Employee Award and also for the Manager of the Year Award.

Here are the rules:

The Outstanding State Employee Award is for non-management employees who do not supervise people or programs.

Nominations can be for one or more of the following criteria: extraordinary competence in work performance, creativity in identifying problems and devising workable, cost-effective solutions; excellent relationships with the public and other employees; commitment to serving the public as the client; and a commitment to economy and efficiency in state government. Any employee, co-worker, supervisor or citizen may nominate an employee for this award. Nominations are to be sent to Norma Atkinson at UDAF and received no later than March 24, 2005.

The Manager of the Year Award is for any supervisor or manager, from first line supervisor up to and including executive directors. Any employee, co-worker, supervisor or citizen may nominate a manager for this award. The criteria for this award is Leadership, Decision Making/Problem Solving; Customer Service; Communication; Culture and Climate, Ethics and Diversity, and Human Resources/Risk Management. Nominations are to be sent to Norma Atkinson at UDAF, and must be received no later than March 24, 2005.

For more information and nomination forms, you may contact Norma Atkinson at (801) 538-7112 or go to DHRM’s homepage at www.dhrm.utah.gov, click on Human Resources, then on the Manager of the Year Information or Employee of the Year Information.

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FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN KANE, WASHINGTON, GARFIELD, IRON, AND SAN JUAN COUNTIES
NOW ELIGIBLE FOR USDA DISASTER EMERGENCY LOANS

Farmers and ranchers in five southern Utah counties who suffered physical and/or production loses because of the January 2005, storms and flooding may apply for disaster emergency loans. The loans are at a reduced rate of 3.75 percent for an amount not to exceed 80 percent of the loss incurred. The maximum loan cannot exceed $500,000.

To be eligible, producers must have suffered a 30 percent loss of normal production, be able to repay the loan and other existing debt, be unable to get credit elsewhere, have adequate security, and must have obtained multi-peril crop insurance or have signed an insurance waiver.

Farmers and ranchers who feel they are eligible may apply for assistance at their local FSA (Farm Service Agency) county office. The deadline for accepting applications is October 3, 2005.

Landowners are urged to file their applications as early as possible to speed loan approval and processing.

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Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
Begins Electronic Chip Tracking of Livestock

Salt Lake City – The first of some 5,000 electronic tracking chips are being distributed to Utah livestock owners as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Utah’s domestic elk ranchers will be among the first livestock owners to receive and attach the devices to their animals. The chips will carry an electronic number that will help Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) Brand Inspectors track where and when the animal was born, where it has lived, as well as its health record.

During the next several weeks hundreds of the chips will be attached to elk located in various locations in Utah. Eventually many head of cattle, sheep, goat, as well as domestic elk, llama, and alpaca are to carry an electronic chip. The UDAF is also encouraging livestock owners to join a national registry of their premises.

The goal of the NAIS is to identify all animals and premises that have had direct contact with a foreign animal disease or domestic disease of concern within 48 hours after discovery.

The increasing number of animal disease outbreaks that have occurred around the world, and the recent discovery of Canadian cows that tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or “Mad Cow” have greatly intensified public interest in developing a national animal identification program for the purpose of protecting animal and human health.

The UDAF will be assisting in the distribution of electronic chips throughout the state during the next few years.

Contact the UDAF Division of Animal industry at 801-538-7161 for information about obtaining electronic chips or joining the premises registration program.