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Ritter vows to push for disaster relief for ranchersLA JUNTA, Colo. (AP)--Gov. Bill Ritter has pledged to keep pushing for federal disaster relief for farmers and ranchers facing losses from back-to-back blizzards that covered southeastern Colorado in several feet of snow and killed thousands of cattle. Ritter met with leaders from seven southeastern counties Jan. 20 during his tour of the state following his inauguration last week. He has requested federal aid to offset livestock and agricultural losses from the storms that hit the region last month. The request is separate from the federal disaster declaration approved this month by President Bush to help cover the costs of snow removal and emergency rescues. "We are doing what we can to get the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide assistance involving livestock to farmers and ranchers down here," Ritter said during a stop at the Otero County Courthouse in La Junta. Ritter said he might need help from Colorado's U.S. senators, Republican Wayne Allard and Democrat Ken Salazar, who have also requested federal aid. Salazar said recently that he is trying to get up to $5 billion tacked on to a supplemental aid package. A disaster declaration by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns would make low-interest loans available to ranchers, farmers, feedlot owners and counties. The Colorado Department of Agriculture estimates that about 10,000 cattle died in the blizzards, although some agriculture groups think the toll could reach 15,000 once all the carcasses are found. Federal aid has been strained by recent ice storms and other disasters across the country, said Lamar rancher John Stulp, picked by Ritter as the state's new ag chief. "Most likely it will be a percent of reimbursement, whether it's 10 cents, 20 cents or 50 cents on the dollar," Stulp said of the aid. There are about 345,000 cattle and calves, 23,500 sows and 112,000 sheep and lambs in the area worth an estimated $500 million, according to state officials. B 5 1/29/07 3 Star CO Date: 1/24/07
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