THE STATE OFFICIALS HELD AN EMERGENCY MEETING TO HELP FARMERS, RANCHERS ACROSS THE STATE WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH WATER AND HAY CONSERVATION EFFORTS. CEOS, ALEXANDRIA WILLIAMS LOOKED INTO HOW THIS RELIEF FUND WILL HELP THEM MOVE FORWARD FROM THE DROUGHT. RECORD BREAKING HEAT CAUSED LASTING EFFECTS ON THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS THIS PAST SUMMER, DEALING WITH A LACK OF HAY AND WATER. BUT NOW THEY’RE GETTING SOME RELIEF. I’M A FARMER, RANCHER MYSELF, AND WE REALIZED THAT REALLY THE DESPERATE SITUATION AND AND THE WATER SITUATION FOR US IS IS PRIMARY. IT’S HARD TO PURCHASE ENOUGH WATER. PREVIOUSLY THOSE IN THE AG INDUSTRY TOOK THEIR CONCERNS TO THE STATE, ASKING FOR RELIEF FROM THE DROUGHT ELEMENTS. OFFICIALS SAY THESE EMERGENCY FUNDS WILL ALLOW THEM TO APPLY MORE CONSERVATION PRACTICES TO THEIR LAND AND PRODUCE AS WELL AS PROVIDE ENOUGH WATER FOR BOTH THE LAND IN LIVESTOCK TO BE BETTER PREPARED IN THE FUTURE. TODAY, WHAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH WAS DIRECTING $5 MILLION TO THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS TO FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE POND CLEAN OUT AND DIGGING WELLS AND HOPEFULLY ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE WATER ISSUES THAT OUR PRODUCERS ARE SEEING. THEY SAY IT DOES NOT MATTER THE SIZE OF YOUR FARM OR RANCH. ALL IN THE AG INDUSTRY ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR RELIEF. THEY ARE TAKING APPLICATIONS NOW AND THE APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IN TRYING TO PREPARE AND PLAN BECAUSE WE’VE GOT A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. LOOK THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH THOSE NEEDS, WHETHER THAT’S BUYING HAY OR CLEANING OUT THAT OR SELLING THAT TANK BECAUSE YOU KNOW, OUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS A FARMER AND RANCHERS TAKING CARE OF THAT ANIMAL REPORTING IN