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.

Mr. 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 livestock.

President Obama asked Congress to pass a bill to ensure a long-term solution to disastrous 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.