Lamar bass is a sweet potato farmer. He says all farmers are in desperate need for federal or state assistance because of the severe drought.

Bass says, “We just a little push, something to help us on this high-priced hay, you can buy hay in Arkansas it cost anywhere from $30 to $50 a roll, but it cost another $25 a roll to get it hauled down here."

With higher than normal temperatures and a lack of rainfall, the East Texas rancher needs help now.

"The small farmers and small ranchers, they’re having to sell off their keeping, just a minimal amount. It’s not just affecting the big rancher, it’s affecting everybody," Bass says.

Bass says if help doesn’t come soon people may have to lean on foreign countries.

"We could be looking at being as dependant on our food from some foreign countries as we are our oil," he says.

State Rep. Dan Flen says there are several federal programs out there that they are bringing awareness too.

"Yes, I know of about five, five programs that are out there for assistance, loan assistance, some of them are grants, some substances that they can help them with," Flen says.

In a press release, Congressman Jeb Hensarling says he can’t be more relieved about the the USDA declaring Kaufman, Van Zandt and Wood Counties Disaster areas.

In a statement he says, “According to the USDA, portions of my district are experiencing once in 50 years drought. It’s critical that producers get the assistance that the current law allows for immediately.

Hensarling says he will continue to help East Texas producers get the help they need to overcome this devastating drought.

For now ranchers and farmers will have to sit tight and hope for the rain to come in.