NCGA Opposes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Missouri Annual Operating Plan for 2006 (12-21-05)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently submitted comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opposing the draft Missouri River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and flexible criteria supplement for 2005-2006.

NCGA opposes the AOP in its current form because altering the management of the Missouri River has many potentially devastating consequences. Farmers downstream are extremely concerned about the potential for delayed planting, flooding and reduced navigation. Upstream concerns with the draft plan include the possible challenges to rural water systems, which can provide critical irrigation water for the growing crop.

“We are hopeful you will recognize the potential negative impact the proposed plan would have on agriculture in the Midwest and make necessary changes to avoid putting untested methods of preservation ahead of navigation, domestic water use and flood control,” NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson said in comments submitted to Colonel Gregg Martin, commander and division engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Tumbleson noted that growers have invested their lives in production agriculture in the floodplain and in businesses associated with the river and river transportation due to the federal government’s commitment made to those living along the Missouri River, which includes flood control and common sense management of the river’s flow.

“Relaxing the flood control constraints during the season when downstream flooding is a common occurrence and unregulated tributaries adding to sudden inflows is a recipe for disaster for farmers and residents in the flood plain,” he said.

The comments also highlighted the need for efficient and beneficial competitive transportation networks for farmers and growers to move their crops and the importance of proper management of river flows over the course of the years.

The Missouri River contributes approximately 60 percent of the Mississippi River flow. Without proper management of river flows over the course of the year, Tumbleson said that transportation could be hampered by insufficient water levels on the Missouri River and on the Mississippi River between Memphis, Tenn. and Baton Rouge, La.

Additionally, NCGA cited that “millions of dollars have been spent to install thousands of miles of lines for rural water systems, providing safe drinking water for farms (human and livestock), towns and industry upstream. The proposed AOP could jeopardize the availability of adequate water supplies throughout the year.”

To view NCGA’s comments in their entirety, please click on the following link.