DALLAS (AP) — Nearly two-thirds of the state's 254 counties have
been declared federal primary natural disaster areas from
drought and heat in a step toward providing help. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture on Wednesday included 157 Texas
counties in the 2013 designation. Qualified farm operators are
eligible for low-interest emergency loans. National Climate Data
Center numbers released Tuesday indicated 2011 and 2012 were the
state's warmest two-year span in more than 100 years. Texas had
its driest year ever in 2011. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
overall designated 597 counties in 14 states as primary natural
disaster areas due to lingering drought and hot weather.