CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST

Sponsor:

Board of Supervisors Meeting Date: 

Harry F. Atherton, Chairman, Marshall District Supervisor

                               July 12, 2007

Staff Lead:

Department: 

Catherine M. Heritage, Assistant County Administrator

County Administration

Topic: 

A Resolution Authorizing the County Administrator to File with the Governor of Virginia a Request that Fauquier County be  Designated a Drought Disaster Area

Topic Description:

The ongoing drought has reached critical proportions for the Fauquier County farming community.  Fauquier County has received less than normal precipitation and below normal temperatures early in the growing season.  Scattered rainstorms have occurred; however, the evaporation rate has been extremely high, negating the effects of the sporadic rainfall.  Stream flow has been reduced and crops are being affected.  The losses to grass, hay and pastures are the most noticeable at this stage in the growing season.  The Fauquier County Food and Agricultural Committee reports that approximately 145,000 acres of farmland have been adversely affected, impacting 957 farms within Fauquier County with estimated crop loss of $3.6 million.

Requested Action of the Board of Supervisors: 

Consider adoption of the attached resolution.

Financial Impacts Analysis:

None

Identify any other Departments, Organizations or Individuals that would be affected by this request:

Virginia Cooperative Extension Service
Farm Services Agency
National Conservation and Recreation Services
Fauquier County Farm Bureau