Missouri to build ponds, help farmers with drought

By Blake Jackson

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has requested $10 million from the state's general revenue fund to build more ponds and assist farmers with the ongoing drought. The DNR says the funding will help to improve the state's water resources and make them more resilient to future extreme weather events.

The request comes as Missouri is experiencing its third drought in five years. The drought has caused widespread damage to crop and livestock and has led to some farmers selling off their cattle.

The DNR's plan would provide grants to farmers to dig additional ponds on their property or dredge existing ponds to make them hold more water. The funding would also be used to support programs to stop soil erosion by growing cover crops.

The DNR says the proposed funding is an investment in Missouri's economy and agricultural industry. The agency estimates that the drought has already cost the state's economy $1 billion.

Governor Mike Parson, who is a farmer, has said that the financial effects of the current drought on ranchers will continue well into the future. Parson has also said that his own cattle farm has been hit hard by the drought.

Under Parson, the state has amped up spending on meat production to grow jobs. In the current budget, at least $70 million is set aside for new agriculture-related research facilities.

The DNR's request does not explicitly mention climate change, but it does state that extreme weather is projected to continue. Climate change has been linked to an increase in intense weather events throughout the world, including droughts, floods, and wildfires.

The DNR's request will need to be approved by the Republican-controlled state legislature. The legislature is scheduled to reconvene in January.

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