Governor Requests Drought Designation for Three NH Counties

CONCORD, NH — Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, has sent a letter to federal officials requesting a “drought disaster designation” for farmers in three New Hampshire counties, in an effort to minimize crop losses due to the 2016 drought.

Crop losses – including mixed forage alfalfa/grass, pumpkins and blueberries – in Rockingham, Grafton, and Strafford Counties have exceeded 30 percent, according to a press statement, and designation would allow for any disaster-related programs or assistance to farmers.

“New Hampshire’s agriculture industry is critical to our economy and our way of life, and a drought disaster declaration for these three counties is critical to minimizing the negative impacts of the recent severe drought conditions to this important industry,” Hassan wrote in a letter to U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

If severe drought conditions persist, other New Hampshire counties will reach the 30 percent threshold that triggered the declaration request, at which point the governor would issue additional disaster declaration requests, according to the statement.

This action follows a recent alert earlier this week by the state requesting residents in all but the northern most areas of the state to conserve water, since relief from the drought is not expected until the fall.