LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ The drought-stricken Texas cattle industry is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help ranchers improve sun-baked, parched grasslands.
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association announced Tuesday that ranchers in 78 counties in Central and South Texas will receive priority to utilize the Grassland Reserve Program.
The program compensates landowners in those counties for deferring cattle grazing until grassland conditions improve. Ranchers affected by salt-water intrusion from Hurricane Ike last year and wildfires in North Texas earlier this year also are eligible.