U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Member: Finance, Agriculture, Energy, Ethics and Aging Committees 2300 15^th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
For Immediate Release Wednesday, June 25, 2008		CONTACT:Stephanie Valencia – 202-228-3630 Michael Amodeo – 202-228-5019
Sen. Salazar Urges Immediate Assistance for Drought-Affected Farmers and Ranchers in Southeastern Colorado WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, United States Senator Ken Salazar urged USDA to provide immediate relief for farmers and ranchers in southeastern Colorado, who are struggling to raise cattle due to a severe drought that is devastating grasslands needed for haying and grazing. “Farmers and ranchers in these communities are contending with significant shortages of native pasture needed for the haying and grazing of cattle, and are being forced to reduce their herds accordingly. They are fast running out of options that will allow them to continue their operations,” wrote Senator Salazar. “Therefore, I urge you to provide immediate access to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage in the affected counties for emergency haying and grazing. I share the view of Governor Ritter and officials from the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Division of Wildlife that doing so will provide much-needed relief to our farmers and ranchers.” A copy of Senator Salazar’s letter can be found here. ###