Additional Texas and New Mexico counties to receive disaster aid

A lack of rain across the mid and late winter season and a forecast for drier conditions have heightened concerns that the drought could intensify in 2014, according to Southwest Farm Press.

Nine Texas counties—Caldwell, DeWitt, El Paso, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Lavaca and Wilson—and six New Mexico counties were designated as primary natural disaster areas due to the drought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These counties were added to the list of eligible counties on the agency’s drought disaster declaration released March 6.

Farmers and ranchers in both states qualify for natural disaster assistance and are eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), if all requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties must apply for loans within eight months from the date of declaration.

Assistance also is available through the Emergency Conservation Program, Federal Crop Insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Additional information can be found at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.