After many hours of debate this week, the U.S. House and the Senate agriculture committees passed their respective versions of the 2013 Farm Bill. The versions are more similar than they are different, giving farmers and ranchers hope that a comprehensive farm bill indeed will get passed before the Sept.

Farmers and ranchers in Montezuma, Archuleta, San Miguel, La Plata, and Dolores counties may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans to help cover losses they sustained as a result of the effects of drought conditions according to Rick Cervenka, senior farm loan officer, with the Farm Service Agency. People must apply no later than Sept. 9, 2013.

As the second of year of drought worsens on Wright’s Mesa, the Norwood Water Commission (NWC) has implemented an outdoor watering conservation plan, effective immediately. The plan is a familiar one for locals who’ve suffered through dry conditions before: town NWC customers are asked to water lawns and gardens on even-numbered calendar days.

Joel Craig sat quietly among the audience of ranchers as dozens of cows shuffled in and out of the room, propelled by the fast-paced babble of the auctioneer. Craig was at the Hi-Country Cattle Auction to sell six of his pure-bred Limousin cattle because he doubts he will have the irrigation water to grow enough hay for all of his animals. “The outlook isn’t good,” he said.

Forty-nine years ago, Ashley Yost’s grandfather sank a well deep into a half-mile square of rich Kansas farmland. He struck an artery of water so prodigious that he could pump 1,600 gallons to the surface every minute. Last year, Mr. Yost was coaxing just 300 gallons from the earth, and pumping up sand in order to do it.

Drought woes have eased in the Midwest after a wet spring, but the far West,  California in particular, are facing continued dry conditions. California has reported its driest year to-date on record, with only 27 percent of normal precipitation for January through April.

Cortez officials are encouraging residents to conserve water during this summer’s predicted drought. As motivation, they plan to step up enforcement of water restrictions and levy fines to repeat offenders. From May 15 until September 15 lawn watering in Cortez will be prohibited from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days per week.

Colorado Mesa University's Water Center teamed up with the Colorado River District to host a State of the Rivers meeting Monday night. One outcomes was a discussion about the yearly draining the Colorado River endures and the possible consequences thereafter.