Nixon extends drought declaration

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is extending his declaration of a state of emergency until mid-November because of drought, heat and the risk of fire.

The governor is giving farmers additional time to complete projects approved through a state cost-sharing program to dig wells and upgrade irrigation systems.

Under the program, state government pays 90 percent of a project's cost instead of the typical 75 percent for state soil and water cost-sharing programs.

Nixon's administration says more than 5,800 applications were approved.