Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., praised today’s announcement by United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns that Wyoming and other drought stricken states will be eligible for drought relief money and livestock assistance grants.

"Wyoming has been unfortunate in recent years to have been suffering through a drought. Not only does drought hurt agriculture producers and strain resources, it also increases the chances for fire outbreaks," said Enzi. "In the true Wyoming spirit firefighters and neighbors have come out to help one another deal with the fires this summer. With this extra help from the Agriculture Department and the community comradery Wyoming citizens already possess, Wyoming will pull through and come out of this drought on top and better off than when we started."

Wyoming will be eligible to receive $926,000 for drought relief and $832,000 for wildfire damage through the Emergency Conservation Program. More detailed information can be found by visiting www.usda.gov.

Across the nation the Livestock Assistance Grant Program will provide $50 million in state block grants to help livestock producers in drought-affected counties to recover grazing losses.