Colorado lawmakers seek aid for farmers facing drought

Colorado Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet have requested federal aid for farmers and ranchers facing severe drought conditions that threaten crops and livestock.

The lawmakers wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking for protection against severe financial and operational losses of farmers, Udall’s office said Monday. They called for all available resources to address the growing threat to Colorado’s agricultural community.

“It is critical that we deploy the resources necessary that might minimize the damages from this looming threat,” the senators wrote.

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture included southern Colorado counties in a drought disaster designation, which…