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Feds Designate $6M For Ranchers Affected By Wildfires

Reno County Fire District #6/Facebook

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is designating more than $6 million to help farmers and ranchers affected by recent wildfires in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

The funding announced Tuesday will be distributed through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help restore grazing lands, rebuild fencing and protect damaged watersheds.

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas says he is pleased USDA acted swiftly to aid producers recovering from the largest wildfire in state history.

He says the impacts are devastating for many Kansans because the fires not only consumed livestock, grazing lands and fencing but also in some cases homes, machinery and equipment.

In a statement, fellow U.S. senator from Kansas Jerry Moran said he has asked the USDA for "maximum flexibility" in administering the federal assistance.

"The availability of USDA conservation funds targeted toward restoring land impacted by the fires is appreciated,” Moran said.

The program is administered by USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Services.

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