CLINTON ADMINISTRATION PROVIDES DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS IN
NEW MEXICO



                                                                       Release No. 0457.97


                                                              Tom Amontree  (202) 720-4623
                                                                        tamontree@usda.gov
                                                               Eric Parsons (202) 720-5237
                                                                 eparsons@wdc.fsa.usda.gov

CLINTON ADMINISTRATION PROVIDES DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS
IN NEW MEXICO

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 31, 1997 -Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Richard Rominger today announced that USDA will provide emergency relief to
help feed an estimated 181,000 livestock stranded in New Mexico due to
unusually severe snow storms.  

     Under the Foundation Livestock Relief  Program (FLRP), USDA will help
producers provide feed for livestock in New Mexico where cattle and sheep
are stranded or unaccounted for following successive snowstorms and severe
low temperatures which hit the state from December 20-25. 

     "These unusual storms have created dangerous conditions for livestock
in New Mexico, and USDA is committed to helping when and where we can," said
Rominger.  "Herds are especially vulnerable now, as many of the cows are
carrying calves, and undue stress could cause many to abort, diminishing the
calf crop in the spring."

     Because of the severe weather conditions, livestock in 8 New Mexico
counties are unable to access their normal feed supplies.  Producers have
been unable to truck-in additional feed due to heavy and drifting snow.  At
least 7,500 animals are dead, and up to 181,000 more, including 113,000 head
of cattle and 68,000 sheep, are at risk if they don't get feed immediately.

     FEMA, USDA, and the National Guards from the states of Oklahoma,
Wyoming, Texas, and New Mexico are working together to airlift hay to
stranded livestock, but cattle stranded away from feed sources are expected
to continue to be a problem for the next several days.  Due to the severity
of the problem, USDA will bear 30 percent of the cost of meeting this short-term emergency need for feed, up to a maximum of $50 per ton of feed.

     Producers will have to present purchase receipts to receive benefits. 
Only receipts reflecting purchases from December 24, 1997 through January 3,
1998 will be accepted.  The assistance is limited to foundation herd and
replacement livestock in Chaves, De Baca, Guadalupe, Lincoln, Mora, Quay,
San Miguel, and Torrance counties and contiguous counties in which the
USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation determines livestock are stranded due to
this disaster. Livestock producers interested in applying for this program
should contact their Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.  Producers who are
unable to reach their county office and are making application over the New
Years holiday weekend should contact the FSA desk at the disaster command
post in Santa Fe, New Mexico at (505) 476-9600.


                                #

NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet.
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov