Lingering Drought Takes Toll On State's Farmers, Ranchers

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A continuing drought has Oklahoma farmers and ranchers scrambling to stay in business and led to the revival of an emergency program to help them get water.<br/><br/>The Oklahoma

Tuesday, July 11th 2006, 10:37 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A continuing drought has Oklahoma farmers and ranchers scrambling to stay in business and led to the revival of an emergency program to help them get water.

The Oklahoma Farm Service Agency is sending more than $4-million to counties to help get water to livestock by building water wells and pipelines from rural water systems.

And cattle ranchers are being forced to sell much of their herds they would normally hold until next year because they have no pasture land for the cattle to graze.

Rancher Gary Winsett in Jackson County says the area is so dry he's seen 3-year-old catfish that haven't learned how to swim.