March 3, 2000

With 95 percent of the state’s ranges and pastures rated from only fair to very poor condition, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has provided the following update.

• Forty additional counties have received a disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for drought losses occurring from Jan. 1, 1998 to the present.

This brings the total to 128 counties in Texas eligible for drought disaster assistance. This includes contiguous counties along the borders of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana because of drought declarations in those states.

• Ten additional counties have requested a drought declaration and are awaiting approval from USDA.

• The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has notified TDA that farmers and ranchers can mow and bale vegetation along Texas highway rights-of-ways. Producers must obtain written permission from one of the 25 TxDOT district offices.

Mowing and baling is generally restricted to areas along rural roads and other areas that do not create a safety hazard to travelers. The landowner immediately adjacent to the requested rights-of-way has the "right of first refusal" to mow and bale it.

• USDA has granted TDA’s request for emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program land in Texas. A total of 446,111 acres in 22 counties have been approved. CRP participants in the approved counties must obtain approval from the Farm Service Agency county office before grazing or leasing grazing rights.

• USDA has approved 31 Texas counties for the Emergency Conservation Program, which provides financial assistance to implement water conservation measures during severe drought. Producers should contact their local FSA office for availability of funds and signup deadlines.