At least $3.9 billion in drought relief...

At least $3.9 billion in drought relief will begin flowing to eligible farmers and ranchers Oct. 3, administered through the county offices of the federal Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. “Everything will be in place by the end of September,” Agriculture Secretary Richard E. Lyng said. The law includes growers of such normally unsubsidized crops as fruits and vegetables. Farmers are eligible if the drought reduced crop yields by 35%, with additional aid for those whose losses exceeded 75%.