Disaster relief declaration could affect local ranchers and farmers

On December 16 Governor Steve Bullock announced that Lake and Hill Counties were designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as primary natural disaster areas due to extreme weather and drought conditions. Because contiguous counties to a declared natural disaster county also are affected, Blaine County ranchers and farmers may be eligible for help for lost production.

Earlier in the month there was another declaration of a physical disaster that affected Blaine County. This declaration applies only to physical damage to buildings and other structures that were affected during the...