USDA Declares Ag Disaster Areas in Texas, Colorado

WASHINGTON - Feb 8/05 - SNS -- The USDA designated numerous counties in Colorado and Texas as primary agricultural disaster areas.

In Colorado, Huerfano, Las Animas and Rio Blanco Counties are designated as primary disaster areas due to drought that occurred from Jan. 1, 2004, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Alamosa, Baca, Bent, Costilla, Custer, Garfield, Moffat, Otero, Pueblo, Routt and Saguache Counties.

Gray County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to excessive rain that occurred from Jan. 1, 2004, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Armstrong, Carson, Collingsworth, Donley, Hemphill, Roberts and Wheeler Counties.

Hamilton County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain and flooding that occurred from Nov. 13, 2004, through Nov. 24, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Bosque, Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Lampasas and Mills Counties.

Hardin County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain, hail, winds and a tornado that occurred on Nov. 23, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange, Polk and Tyler Counties.

Bastrop County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain, flooding and a tornado that occurred from Oct. 1, 2004, through Nov. 24, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Lee, Travis and Williamson Counties.

Garza County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to hail that occurred on Oct. 9, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Borden, Crosby, Dickens, Kent, Lubbock, Lynn and Scurry Counties.

Coryell County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain, hail and high winds that occurred from Jan. 1, 2004, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Bell, Bosque, Hamilton, Lampasas and McLennan Counties.

Jackson County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain and flooding that occurred from Nov. 20, 2004, through Nov. 21, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Calhoun, Colorado, Lavaca, Matagorda, Victoria and Wharton Counties.

Gillespie County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain and flooding that occurred from Nov. 1, 2004, through Nov. 23, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Blanco, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano and Mason Counties.

Guadalupe County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain that occurred from Nov. 22, 2004, through Hove. 23, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Gonzales, Hays and Wilson Counties.

Wharton County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain and flooding that occurred from Nov. 21, 2004, through Nov. 28, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Austin, Brazoria, Colorado, Fort Bend, Jackson and Matagorda Counties.

Newton County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to flooding and tornadoes that occurred from Nov. 23, 2004, through Nov. 24, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Jasper, Orange and Sabine Counties.

Yoakum County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain, flooding, hail and high winds that occurred on Oct. 5, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Cochran, Gaines, Hockley and Terry Counties.

Terry County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to hail that occurred from June 17, 2004, through Oct. 5, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Cochran, Dawson, Gaines, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn and Yoakum Counties.

Wilson County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to rain that occurred from Nov. 18, 2004, through Nov. 23, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Atascosa, Bexar, Gonzales, Guadalupe and Karnes Counties.