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Texas Drought Declared Natural Disaster
The Huffington Post First Posted: 06/29/11 01:25 PM ET Updated: 06/29/11 04:06 PM ET
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Drought and wildfires have lead to the decision by the US Department of Agriculture to declare the entire state of Texas a natural disaster.
KCBD in Lubbock reports that in all, 213 counties in Texas have lost at least 30 percent of their crops or pasture.
The disaster declaration will allow farmers and ranchers to qualify for emergency loans at lower interest rates.
"This is a disaster," Texas farmer Scott Harmon said. "This is a train wreck."
Mike Swain, who farms south of Brownfield, told the Lubbock Avalanche Journal that loans aren't what he's looking for.
"I will be real honest, I don't need a loan - I need rain," Swain said.
Ranchers have also been hurt by the drought, Swain noted.
"A lot of people have lost their livestock, their homes, their fencing," he said.
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