By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Alabama farmers have asked the federal government to provide emergency assistance to help them recover from what they describe as a devastating drought.
The farmers and officials from the Alabama Farmers Federation gathered Friday in sweltering heat in a dusty field north of Montgomery. Shep Morris said he tried to grow corn on a field near the Alabama River. But without sufficient rain the corn burned up and has mostly been torn down.
Farmers Federation President Jerry Newby urged the U-S Department of Agriculture to release 17 (m) million dollars in emergency aid to help Alabama farmers. The nine members of Alabama's congressional delegation have asked federal agriculture officials for the money.
Also, Governor Bob Riley has asked the federal government for 10 (m) million dollars to be used to transport hay from rain rich states like Texas and Louisiana to Alabama.
Coffee County cattle farmer Max Bozeman said cattle farmers are selling off their herds because they don't have hay to feed their cows.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)