Governor Jay Nixon announced in Maryville the state has awarded more than $3.8 million to producers in a water project cost-share program in the last week.

Along side state Agricultural Director Jon Hagler, Gov. Nixon told producers that 818 contracts have been awarded so far in the program that pays 90-percent of the cost for water projects.Normal cost-share is 75-percent.

Nixon signed an executive order making $7 million available to help livestock producers and farmers drill or deepen wells or expand irrigation systems.

“Livestock producers across Missouri have been hit hard by this historic period of heat and drought, and this emergency assistance is making a real difference for our farm families,” Gov. Nixon said.  “We will continue to work closely with local soil and water district boards to approve these applications and keep this vital assistance moving.”

The emergency cost-share program is available to Missouri livestock or crop farmers whose production is being severely impacted by the current drought.

“We got just a few days left in this program but we want to make sure we can get as much help out there as possible. We do have a team available at the state level,” Hagler said. “If your local soil and water district office is having trouble we can certainly send a little bit of help and make sure we can do what we can.”

In order to qualify for the program, a proposed water project must bring immediate material benefit to crops or livestock.  To get the program up and running, the State Soil and Water Districts Commission also provided an initial outlay of $2 million in state reserve funds to provide the grants.

Applications must be submitted by August 6th to Soil and Water district offices or online at www.mo.gov.