Owens Requests Federal Disaster Status For 25 CO Counties

DENVER (AP) -- Gov. Bill Owens has asked federal agriculture officials to declare a huge swath of Colorado a disaster area because of drought, fire, high winds and heat, The Associated Press has learned. The request covers 25 of Colorado's 64 counties, spread across the southern half of the state from the southwest corner to the eastern border with Kansas, according to a letter obtained Thursday by the AP.

In the letter, Owens told U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns that farmers and ranchers need federal help. The letter was sent Tuesday but was not officially made public. Owens spokesman Nate Strauch said the governor does not announce disaster-designation requests until they are approved

The drought has persisted since 1999. Many areas in eastern, southern and southwestern Colorado report no significant precipitation since last October. A late freeze damaged crops in some western counties as well," Owens wrote. Some farmers on the Eastern Plains say they could go out of business because of the drought.

Troy Bredenkamp, executive vice president of the Colorado Farm Bureau, said a disaster designation would do little to help farmers who still have not paid off loans from 2002, when the drought was at its worst. But he said it may give them priority if Congress approves disaster relief.

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