Terrell First County
With Drouth Approval

AUSTIN — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry announced Tuesday that Terrell County is the first county in Texas to receive a disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Also named as contiguous disaster counties were Brewster, Crockett, Pecos and Val Verde.

The designation allows farm and ranch operators in the primary and contiguous counties to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency for both physical and production losses.

Terrell County had been awaiting USDA approval since April 29 of this year.
"When I met with Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman in June, I stressed the need to streamline the drouth declaration process for our farmers and ranchers," Perry said. "I hope that other counties are approved more quickly, since many of our producers cannot afford to wait much longer."

Currently, 110 Texas counties are at some step in the disaster declaration process, from needing a county judge's request to USDA approval. Sixty-five counties are awaiting USDA approval.