Wyo. Counties Hit by Drought Eligible for Assistance

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman has named three Wyoming counties contiguous drought disaster areas, making them eligible for federal assistance, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.

The designation offers assistance with problems resulting from severe drought. Forecasters at the National Weather Service say the outlook for relief is not good.

In this third year of drought snowpack in some parts of the state is less than half of normal. Irrigators and even municipalities are preparing for water shortages.

Farmers and ranchers in these counties will be eligible to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Several Nebraska counties that border Goshen, Laramie and Niobrara were also designated as primary drought disaster areas.