Obama Pledges Aid to Drought-Stricken Farmers

 U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged a wide-ranging response for farmers and ranchers to the one of the worst droughts in more than 50 years.

Obama said in his weekly address Saturday the current corn crop is in "poor or very poor" condition and cattle farmers are "struggling to feed their animals."

The president said his administration is giving farmers and ranchers access to low-interest emergency loans, opening more federal land for grazing, and is distributing $30 million to get water to livestock¹.

President Obama asked Congress to pass a bill to ensure a long-term solution to disastrous² farm conditions.

In the weekly Republican address, Senator Roger Wicker of the southern state of Mississippi said the president should work with Congress to avoid $110 billion in automatic spending cuts required by a deficit-cutting plan.

1 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

2 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。