New Mexico Game and Fish funds to help ranchers, wildlife

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is providing some money to ranchers to help wildlife during the current drought. The department is providing a one-time $40,000 payment to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to help ranchers offset the cost of hauling or pumping water to livestock tanks that also are used by wildlife. The funding will pass through the nonprofit New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts. The organization will make up to $350 available to individual ranchers to pay for fuel needed to haul water or pay for electricity to pump water to tanks. The money comes from the Department of Game and Fish budget, which is funded primarily by hunting, fishing and trapping license sales. The money will be available through the 47 conservation district offices on a first-come, first-served basis. Department of Game and Fish Director Jim Lane and Agriculture Director/Secretary Jeff Witte announced the funding Tuesday...more