Senators want drought declaration in NM

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - New Mexico's two U.S. senators are seeking a drought declaration for seven southern and eastern New Mexico counties.

A disaster declaration would help provide access to federal disaster assistance.

Democrats Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall wrote U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday, asking him to quickly approve the state's request for a disaster declaration because of severe drought and high winds.

They say farmers and ranchers in Otero, Lincoln, DeBaca, Roosevelt, Lea, Eddy and Chaves counties have suffered losses since last October.

The senators say the most recent drought monitoring shows southeastern New Mexico under moderate or severe drought conditions. They also say all the state's dry winter wheat crop and 80 percent of its dry sorghum are rated poor or very poor.