LUBBOCK (July 28, 2009)--The drought-stricken Texas cattle industry is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help ranchers improve sun-baked, parched grasslands.

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association announced Tuesday that ranchers in 78 counties in Central and South Texas will receive priority to utilize the Grassland Reserve Program.

"While GRP is open to anyone who owns grassland, we are giving priority consideration to drought areas so ranchers can protect their land resources through rental agreements or perpetual easements," said Don Gohmert, state conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Texas.

The program compensates landowners in those counties for deferring cattle grazing until grassland conditions improve.

"Cattlemen are always talking about which disaster was the worst," TSCRA Director Beau White, a rancher from Rosanky, Texas, who spoke at the press conference, said.

"In my short experience, the answer is easy. It is the one you are currently dealing with.

Ranchers affected by salt-water intrusion from Hurricane Ike last year and wildfires in North Texas earlier this year are also eligible.