DARLINGTON - Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, has asked Gov. Jim Doyle to make financial assistance available for people in Lafayette and Grant counties, who had crop damage as a result of last week's storms.
Schultz represents most of Lafayette County in the Senate.
Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, said Tuesday he also planned to work with the governor to try to get state and federal assistance for Lafayette County farmers. Hilgenberg said Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Rod Nilsestuen will visit Lafayette County Thursday to tour storm damage.
Schultz sent a letter to Doyle Tuesday asking Doyle to make state assistance available and to appeal to the United States Department of Agriculture for assistance.
In his letter to the governor, Schultz said 11 of the 18 townships in Lafayette County were affected by the storms, which took place Friday.
He estimated that about 20,000 acres of corn and about 10,000 acres of soybeans were damaged.
Schultz toured the damage Monday in Lafayette County and said the damage is sufficient to warrant assistance.
"This type of weather could not have hit at a worse time," Schultz said.
Farmers that had crop damage need to contact him at (608) 776-4870 and report any damage as soon as possible. They can also call the United States Department of Agriculture at (608) 776-4028.
Any federal or state assistance will be based on the assessment and total amount of damage.
Agriculture is the most important industry in Lafayette County; it's one of the most agricultural counties in the state, said Connie Heins of the Lafayette County Farm Services Agency.
Ted Bay of the University of Wisconsin-Extension office in Lafayette County said some of the soybeans hit by hail could recover. He said farmers should have a better idea in about 10 days if the soybeans will survive.
Storms that came through the area Friday caused hail, rain and at least one tornado.
Dime-sized to 1 1/2-inch hail fell on the western and southwestern portion of the country between 4:30 and 10 p.m. Friday.
"In White Oak Springs township a snowplow was used to clear roadways of fallen hail," Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley said Friday.
Schultz represents most of Lafayette County in the Senate.
Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, said Tuesday he also planned to work with the governor to try to get state and federal assistance for Lafayette County farmers. Hilgenberg said Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Rod Nilsestuen will visit Lafayette County Thursday to tour storm damage.
Schultz sent a letter to Doyle Tuesday asking Doyle to make state assistance available and to appeal to the United States Department of Agriculture for assistance.
In his letter to the governor, Schultz said 11 of the 18 townships in Lafayette County were affected by the storms, which took place Friday.
He estimated that about 20,000 acres of corn and about 10,000 acres of soybeans were damaged.
Schultz toured the damage Monday in Lafayette County and said the damage is sufficient to warrant assistance.
"This type of weather could not have hit at a worse time," Schultz said.
Farmers that had crop damage need to contact him at (608) 776-4870 and report any damage as soon as possible. They can also call the United States Department of Agriculture at (608) 776-4028.
Any federal or state assistance will be based on the assessment and total amount of damage.
Agriculture is the most important industry in Lafayette County; it's one of the most agricultural counties in the state, said Connie Heins of the Lafayette County Farm Services Agency.
Ted Bay of the University of Wisconsin-Extension office in Lafayette County said some of the soybeans hit by hail could recover. He said farmers should have a better idea in about 10 days if the soybeans will survive.
Storms that came through the area Friday caused hail, rain and at least one tornado.
Dime-sized to 1 1/2-inch hail fell on the western and southwestern portion of the country between 4:30 and 10 p.m. Friday.
"In White Oak Springs township a snowplow was used to clear roadways of fallen hail," Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley said Friday.