Texas Drought Declared Natural Disaster

Drought and wildfires have led 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.

Comments

[Fred Enfield]

02:42 PM on 07/30/2011

All of Texas is a natural disaster except for Dealey Plaza, which already has its own unique disaster classification.

[bcmom]

02:23 AM on 07/07/2011

I am a transplant from another state. I had a lady jump down my throat at the mention I thought it was part of climate change. They condemn what they do not understand.

[LiLSuzQ32]

10:04 PM on 07/05/2011

That's a shame ... they don't want anyone else to get federal money, so why should they?

Let 'em secede!

[Fredrickdouglas]

11:36 PM on 08/04/2011

As long as they are being forced to pay taxes to the federal government then they should receive the same federal aid money that any other state would for a similar situation.

[reetoetaytoe]

01:44 PM on 07/02/2011

And that's all you took from My and and Smelly, Junk you said here and i was Junk! And the Jew Baptist here told you of the forth Comming Sky's and you said So Wait. and John said to you here...You Jew Jesus, stoled in the middle of the Farm, one good Addamal and i was he and you Jew yourself now, for I AM The V and John said to you...unto you thee fed and you said you Jew you here along the violint Lines of veef, that i John, The Baptist IS REAL, but oo am i and i said Bee D Fandamirrior, not Dumpel D Stiltskin of another Skin you know and now you know. Tom on forever, not Dumpel D Stiltskin forever and VeeV. TOM

[EZ Marc]

03:11 AM on 07/02/2011

It's God's fault, man. He wouldn't listen to the governor's prayers.

[Johnoneone1999]

09:19 PM on 07/01/2011

Hold on a moment which Texas are we talking about here.Given Perry is the governor of one,but who's the other governor. Haven 't heard about him before?

[Johnoneone1999]

09:16 PM on 07/01/2011

After all those glowing reports about the magic of Gov. Perry's "wand" over Texas properity; then, being told that the "entire" state has been declared a disaster, I am as confused as witch-doctor at a medical convension. Which Texas are we supposed to be thinking about?

[undrgrndgirl]

07:13 PM on 07/01/2011

now is the time for all good texans to secede!

[brakka]

03:10 PM on 07/01/2011

Man, what a bunch of ugly, hateful people in this thread. You guys call yourselves Progressives? I wouldn't; you're as embarrassing as the "ignorant" people you call out on the other side.

Seriously, download a clue before you start lumping all Texans into one category, including BlackJAC, who clearly enjoys perpetually jabbing Texans (and displaying his own ignorance in the process).

This is exactly why I'm not a Democrat anymore; you all are just as bad and as dogmatic as those you call out on the other side. How shameful.

[Craig Forster]

06:01 PM on 07/01/2011

Amen Buddy, last time I checked we are all part of the same country and as such we should be helping our neighbors in need what ever state they are in. Just remember its hard to change a HATEFUL mind. God Bless the USA and the whole World!
Cheers

[undrgrndgirl]

07:14 PM on 07/01/2011

not to texans...they don't want no gubment help, they shouldn't get any.

[kattraxz]

01:15 PM on 07/01/2011

No matter how many others lack compassion for the folks in Texas whose livelihoods and food supply are endangered due to drought, we need to be concerned as a whole country not just condeming innocent folks due to partisan political views. Texas beef and other products are sold all over the nation, in one form or another. Food prices will escalate even more. Here in California, we just endured a 4 year drought that bankrupted many farmers whose produce ALSO was shipped nationally and worldwide. Be conscious of these facts instead of barfing the usual boring insults that find their way onto these sites by intellectually challenged folks. Food supply matters are not just local issues. Hang tough Texas, just like we Californians were forced to do.

[undrgrndgirl]

07:17 PM on 07/01/2011

and just how did those texans act for the last 4 years? well...before the drought enron tried to bankrupt california, most texans would like to see california drop off the map...i am a california native who lived in north texas for 10 years, i know from where i speak.

[TYRANNASAURUS]

12:39 PM on 07/01/2011

All Of Texas Declared Natural Disaster.........

See if Mexico wants it back...... we'll probably have to throw in a couple of billion to sweeten the sour deal.

[MarkBoston]

11:41 AM on 07/01/2011

The Texan intellect is also a disaster !

[andreavan1]

03:02 PM on 07/01/2011

That's a pretty funny thing to say since, in the last year, 37% of the Nation's new jobs have been created in TX. I guess in your world, bankrupt Liberal cesspools like California and Illinois are where all of the smart people live.

[melodysmind]

04:29 PM on 07/01/2011

The jobs are going to Texas because Texas politicians are giving away the farm to big corporations. Down the road, Texans will pay the price for it. Even some of the corporations are already complaining about the deep cuts in education ($4 billion from public schools).

"For Texas to cut $4 billion from public-school funding now, when a better-educated Texas can be a bulwark against future recessions, seems unwise, not conservative and, in fact, very risky," Charles Butt, chairman of H.E. Butt Grocery in San Antonio, wrote in a letter published June 10 in the Houston Chronicle."

Public schools have already started firing teachers which means larger classrooms and more work for the remaining teachers. Colleges and universities will be getting $1.2 billion less.

"Executives including Ed Whitacre, a former chairman of Dallas-based AT&T, have said cuts of that magnitude may make Texas less competitive. The state ranks 43rd in graduation rates, according to the Legislative Budget Board in Austin."

Giving away the farm may trick people into voting for politicians in the short term, but what is the price long term? And a majority of the new jobs coming to Texas are very low paying jobs.

Lowering educational standards is only one consequence of what will most likely lead to big problems down the road by this "trickle down" philosophy which we have seen time and time again, just doesn't work.

[carmenalex]

02:46 PM on 07/30/2011

Those new jobs are mostly minimum wage unsecured jobs that do not pay living wages.

[Paul Paul]

09:23 AM on 07/01/2011

Farmers must take up non-tillage farming methods. It is the plow that is the greatest threat to the environment. The plow is used to cut open and dehydrate hundreds of millions of acres of land around the world and expose it to erosion. Non-tillage plowing, also known as pasture cropping, can save millions of tonnes of water and soil and sequester CO2 as well by building a healthy topsoil full of carbon rich humus. Climate change is caused by more than rising CO2 levels; deforestation, loss of ground covers and topsoil and draining of wetlands have had a big impact on the climate. Poor agricultural practices have made a contribution and it's time that farmers started to adopt sustainable farming practices. If you have an interest in land management then please read "Water for Every Farm" about 'Keyline' a system of pasture management using contour ditch digging and non-tillage chisel plowing and dam building, that controls and exploits the flow of rain water through the landscape. With good design the human presence should leave the environment in a developed state not a depleted one.

[AlbertT]

07:26 AM on 07/01/2011

There is no climate change, just year after year of inconvenient weather.

[Norman720]

12:04 AM on 07/01/2011

What? Texas is asking for Federal aid.

[tepeko]

01:26 AM on 07/01/2011

Texas pays for the financial aid that they are given.. In fact, since 1/3 of all jobs created in the country have been created by Texas, resulting in more federal taxes being sent to Texas, they deserve it!

[AlbertT]

07:20 AM on 07/01/2011

That sounds like another invented rightwing "fact."

[BlackJAC]

03:40 PM on 07/01/2011

Minimum-wage Wal-Mart jobs don't count.  And show me the exact passage in the Constitution where it says they deserve any financial aid--you can't because it doesn't exist.