Federal Drought Assistance Limited in Klamath

Klamath, Ore., farmers who did not buy federal crop insurance last year are not likely to see much in the way of disaster assistance for this year’s drought.

The Herald and News newspaper reports that despite requests from the governor and Oregon’s two senators, federal agriculture officials have not agreed to reopen last September’s crop insurance deadline.

Jennifer Simon, Klamath county director for the Farm Service Agency, says signing up for crop insurance is necessary for most federal drought assistance.

The federal irrigation project serving the upper Klamath Basin is projected to supply only 30 percent of typical irrigation this year, due to low reservoir levels and the need to conserve water for protected fish.