Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman has named three Wyoming counties primary drought disaster areas, making them eligible for federal assistance, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.

In an Oct. 23 letter, Veneman declared Lincoln, Sublette and Sweetwater counties primary drought disaster areas after determining there was a sufficient amount of production loss in those counties to warrant a designation.

Carbon, Fremont, Teton and Uinta counties were named contiguous natural disaster areas because they neighbor one of the primary disaster counties.

Farmers and ranchers in the primary counties will be eligible for consideration for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The declaration also designates neighboring counties as secondary disaster areas, allowing farm and ranch operators in secondary counties to apply for low-interest loans as well.

Eligibility for an FSA loan is based on the extent of loss, security available and repayment availability. Producers in these counties must apply for the loans before June 23, 2004 for losses incurred since January 2003.

"I am pleased Wyomingites in these counties will have the opportunity to apply for the assistance they need to keep their operations running. It is assistance like this that is helping our farmers and ranchers weather the blows that nature has dealt us," said Enzi.

For more information regarding the drought designations please contact the FSA at 307-261-5231.