ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is designating six New Mexico counties and one in Texas as natural disaster areas due to drought.

The designations Wednesday of Dona Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Otero and Sierra counties in New Mexico and Texas' El Paso County means farmers and ranchers in those counties are eligible for natural disaster assistance.

That aid primarily consists of low-interest loans from the Farm Service Agency.


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