State calls for disaster declaration

Facing “unprecedented wildfire losses”, Wyoming has requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) declare a statewide disaster designation.

“The total number of fires so far in Wyoming this year is 632, and they have burned 629,682 acres across Wyoming,” wrote Governor Mark Gordon in a letter to Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

“…A disproportionate amount of the area burned so far has occurred on private lands, with almost all of those lands being used for some type of agricultural production.”

The total damage of this year’s fire season is, of course, not yet known. However, Gordon used the House Draw Fire in Johnson County as an example: 84% of the 170,000-acre fire was on private land and losses so far are estimated at $25 million, including livestock, 590 miles of fence, stock tanks and livestock forage.

“Hot days, high winds, continued drought conditions and stretched resources have all contributed to the conditions we are experiencing this year,” Gordon wrote.

“The task of building back will be exceptionally challenging, and time is of the essence as the infrastructure necessary to manage livestock as well as provide water for wildlife has been decimated.”

Gordon has asked for maximum flexibility of USDA’s programs, a waiver of the in-person inspection requirement for damaged fencing and flexibility in the implementation of NRCS Conservation Practice Standards for herbaceous weed treatments and prescribed grazing.

The latter, he said, was due to his concern that some producers might choose not to participate in restoration efforts because of the grazing deferment requirements after pesticide applications.

Gordon also expressed support for congressional action that would give flexibility to payment limitations or adjusted gross income limits for program eligibility, because Wyoming is home to the largest average-size agricultural operation in the U.S. and this could exclude producers who cannot afford needed restoration.

A website is now also available through the University of Wyoming to provide information about fire and recovery resources for those who are impacted. The site can be accessed at https://www.uwyo.edu/barnbackyard/resources/wildfire.html.