Local Counties Request Ag Disaster Aid

Crow Wing, Cass, Aitkin and Wadena Counties are among 18 Minnesota counties seeking agriculture disaster status from Governor Tim Pawlenty in a letter today to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack

Farmers in these counties have experienced significant crop losses in 2009 due to difficult growing conditions. While northeastern Minnesota counties experienced severely dry weather, several north central counties experienced cold, wet growing conditions coupled with an early frost that prematurely ended the growing season.

Loss Assessment Reports indicate that farmers experienced crop losses of 30 percent or more to corn, soybeans, canola, sunflowers, flax, barley, oats, blueberries, honey, dry edible beans, rye and sugar beet crops.