Governor Jim Gibbons announced that his request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been granted for the entire State of Nevada.

On October 16, 2007, Governor Gibbons and the Nevada State Department of Agriculture sent a letter to Acting Secretary for the USDA Charles F. Conner, requesting federal assistance for the State of Nevada due to losses caused by drought and wildfires. 

“This year’s drought resulted in the loss of close to one million acres of grazing land for our ranching communities,” said Governor Jim Gibbons.  “I am pleased that the USDA recognized the devastating impact that this year’s drought and wildfires had on so many of Nevada’s rural economies.” 

The federal Disaster Designation will provide ranchers and farmers in all 17 counties with access to low-interest loans and other federal assistance.  This assistance is critically important to many of Nevada’s rural communities that rely heavily on economic support from local agriculture industries.

“These federal resources will assist our farmers and ranchers as they address many challenges caused by this year’s difficult fire season,” Governor Gibbons added.