All three counties comprising the tri-county area were declared natural disaster areas this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The declaration covers two-thirds of Montana's 56 counties, including Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Broadwater, Powell, and Cascade.

Jefferson County Commissioner Chuck Notbohm said the disaster relief could be advantageous to area producers, primarily south of Boulder.

"There's a good number of cattle operations here that are dependent upon the weather to see them through," Notbohm said. "This might help them out in the future."

Larry Hoffman, the Lewis and Clark County extension agent, said that while this year has been wetter than in recent years, when talking drought, it's the big picture that matters.

"The last five years of drought has caught up with us," Hoffman said. "This benefits farmers and ranchers in several ways."

The declaration of disaster, brought on by lingering drought, allows Montana's farmers and ranchers to receive low-interest emergency loans through the Farm Service Administration.

Also, ranchers who had to sell livestock because of drought won't have to pay capital gains taxes on the sale if they buy new livestock within four years.

Hoffman said about 100 producers in Lewis and Clark County alone may qualify for drought relief.

"A lot of them won't take advantage of it, because they cut down on their livestock numbers," Hoffman said. "It's a benefit to them. At least they're going to get something."

Hoffman said the tri-county area supports a variety of operations, including grain, cow-calf, hog, sheep, goat and dairy.

The region also supports some specialty crops, like canola.

To apply for relief, Hoffman said, producers should contact their local farms services office.

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or at mkidston@helenair.com.