Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today urged U.S. Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer to quickly approve Gov. Bill Richardson’s request for a statewide disaster declaration due to severe drought and high winds.

In a letter to Schafer, Bingaman said New Mexico farmers and ranchers are suffering losses because of the weather. A disaster declaration would help provide access to federal disaster funds.

“Farmers and ranchers are suffering from high temperatures, high winds, and lack of rainfall. Serious damage has already occurred to hay, pasture and forage crops. In light of the ongoing losses and the possible long-term impacts of the drought in New Mexico, I urge you to take prompt action on Governor Richardson’s request that all 33 counties in New Mexico be declared primary disaster areas and approved for a Secretarial designation,” Bingaman wrote.

According to USDA, 69 percent of the state’s range and pasture and 67 percent of the wheat crop are currently rated very poor or poor. Soil moisture levels in 86 percent of the state or now considered very short or short, with 90 percent in the southwest considered very short. In addition extreme fire danger exists across most of New Mexico’s 33 counties. The dry conditions are forecasted to continue into the summer months.