LEG00147

• Bill Number: HJR02S1005
• Year: 2002
• Title: Concerning Crop and Livestock Assistance
• Legislation - Doc Type: Other CWCB Related Bills - Passed

Third Extraordinary Session
Sixty-third General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO

LLS NO. R02S-2084.01 Emily Hager
Coleman and Miller HOUSE SPONSORSHIP

REVISED
HJR02S-1005

SENATE SPONSORSHIP

Entz, Hillman, and Isgar

House Committees

Senate Committees

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 02S-1005 CONCERNING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR CROP AND
LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS DUE TO DROUGHT DEVASTATION.
WHEREAS, Snowpack levels and precipitation from rainfall have been far below normal for many
western states, including Colorado; and
WHEREAS, Facing one of the most severe droughts in the state's history, all Colorado counties have
been designated disaster areas, as dry conditions have greatly reduced the ability of farmers and ranchers to
produce their commodities and to provide related services; and
WHEREAS, The lack of moisture will drastically decrease the harvest of many Colorado crops, such as
wheat which is expected to yield a crop that is 25-40% of a normal yield; and
WHEREAS, Irrigated farms on average have received only 15% of the water they normally use for crop
production; and
WHEREAS, In addition to making it more difficult to raise crops, the extreme dryness also carries .
several secondary concerns, such as the loss of top soil, soil erosion, and an increased possibility of inS<lllt g]
. fi . d ~ z
In estatlon; an '-l e. ~
WHEREAS, The suffering state of agriculture directly impacts the prospects of raising livestock, b~~ '"
of low-yielding feeder crops, limited harvest foliage and forage, and the increasing price of hay and other .fed'd;
d ~ ~.
an ~
WHEREAS, Livestock auction barns in the west are extending their sale hours to accommodate the l.ln-ge
numbers of livestock being sold because ranchers cannot afford to feed their herds; and '"
WHEREAS, There is no insurance available for suffering livestock producers; and
WHEREAS, Livestock and crop prices alike have been low since 1997, giving producers very 1
financial cushion for hard times; and
WHEREAS, The financial impact caused by the drought could be devastating to Colorado's agricultural
community, but also will have an overall effect on the economy ofthe entire state; and
WHEREAS, An allocation of nearly $2.5 billion for disaster assistance was originally included in the
federal "Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002", commonly known as the "2002 Farm Bill", but this
allocation was removed during conference committee deliberations on the bill; and