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DENVER (AP) — Gov. Bill Ritter says six western Colorado counties have been declared federal disaster areas because of cold weather that damaged grape orchards.

The counties are Mesa, Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Montrose and Pitkin. The damage occurred during severe cold weather between December and February.

Half of Mesa County's grape orchard was affected. The county was declared the primary disaster area.

The designation makes farmers eligible to apply for assistance and loans from the Farm Service Agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack approved the designations.

Online: Farm Service Agency: http://www.fsa.usda.gov

(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)