Topeka ? Gov. Sam Brownback heads to southwestern Kansas this week for a fresh look at conditions caused by persistent drought.

Brownback toured the rain-deprived counties of Finney, Gray, Haskell and Meade in early May. On Wednesday he plans to visit Morton, Stevens and Seward counties, in the southwestern-most corner of the state.

Nearly half of Kansas has been declared in a drought emergency because of extreme conditions for the past year. Some western sections have barely received half their normal rainfall since late spring of 2010.

Brownback will visit Wednesday with agriculture producers and local government leaders about the drought’s effects. Also making the trip will be Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman and Water Office Executive Director Tracy Streeter.