ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION).
President Barack Obama toured parts of California's drought zone on Friday and pledged to speed help to the No. 1 farm state.
California is coming off its driest year on record and a recent winter storm did little to dull the impact of the drought in the state that produces half the country's fruits and vegetables. A recent drought monitor said 91.6 percent of the state is experiencing severe to exceptional drought.
After his roundtable, Obama was to tour a dry field and announce plans to make available within 60 days up to $100 million in aid to help California farmers who lost livestock because of drought conditions. For livestock producers across the country, about $1 billion will be available.
The assistance was contained in a $956 billion farm bill that Congress passed and that he signed last week. Separately, the administration said it plans new funding to address climate change.
At a meeting of the state's top wate
