Due to drought conditions and the impact on Wyoming farmers and ranchers, Governor Matt Mead has asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to issue an agricultural disaster declaration for all of Wyoming, except Teton County.
“Wyoming farmers and ranchers are struggling to work through serious impacts caused by drought,” Mead said.
If the declaration is granted, it could provide federal emergency assistance to Wyoming producers, according to a governor’s office press release.
“Over the past month, county commissioners throughout Wyoming have requested agricultural disaster designations for the 2012 agricultural production year. After consultation with the Wyoming Farm Service Agency it is clear that every Wyoming county with the exception of Teton County has suffered grazing loss and dry land hay loss in excess of the disaster threshold,” Mead said.
The Board of Albany County Commissioners found there is an extreme danger of fire throughout Albany County because there is a presence of an excessive amount of flammable materials and open burning and the use of incendiary devices aggravate the high fire danger.
Effective June 15 and until further notice any open fire, discharge of any common fireworks or display fireworks and the discharge of a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition is prohibited on all land within Albany County.
In addition to the drought disaster declaration, 12 counties, including Albany County, have instituted fire bans.
“There is a ban on fires on all state lands,” Mead said.
“The legislature had the wisdom to leave this as a matter of local control and the county commissioners are in the best position to review conditions near to home and decide which activities should be prohibited,” Mead said.
There are multiple exceptions that can be found on the Albany County website.
