All of Nebraska now eligible for drought aid

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By The Associated Press

Thirty-four counties were declared to be in ongoing drought Thursday, making the entire state eligible for disaster aid.

“Nebraska has been particularly hard hit this year,” Gov. Dave Heineman said Thursday.

The following counties, which join 49 others already declared to have drought disasters, are: Adams, Antelope, Boone, Burt, Butler, Cedar, Clay, Colfax, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Fillmore, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lancaster, Madison, Merrick, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Pierce, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward, Stanton, Thayer, Thurston, Wayne and York.

Producers in those areas are now eligible for low-interest disaster loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The remaining 10 Nebraska counties that do not have drought disaster status have been declared contiguous disaster areas, making them eligible for loans as well.

Also on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel announced that all Nebraska cattle producers who had to sell cattle as a result of drought have been granted extensions to the capital gains tax.

Earlier this month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson extended the provision for an additional year if in the 12 months ending Aug. 31 there was severe, extreme or exceptional drought conditions in a particular area.