MADISON - Lafayette County farmers and residents could be getting some help from the federal government.
On Thursday, Gov. Jim Doyle asked U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to declare disasters in four southwestern Wisconsin counties hit hard by the July storms, according to a statement released by Doyle's staff.
A secretarial disaster declaration by Vilsack would allow crop producers to qualify for assistance, generally in the form of low-interest loans.
"Wisconsin farmers have seen the worst that Mother Nature can do in the past three growing seasons, with floods, drought, tornadoes and hail," Doyle said, in the statement. "This year, farmers are also facing the effects of a global economic recession. I am working hard with Secretary Vilsack to swiftly assist state farmers affected by drought and storms."
Doyle sought a federal disaster declaration for 41 counties suffering under drought conditions.
The four counties suffering storm damage are Crawford, Grant, Lafayette and Monroe.
Lafayette County was pounded by hail that damaged or destroyed thousands of acres of corn and soybeans. The corn was at a critical growth stage, and it was too late to replant crops.
Crawford and Grant counties experienced storms on July 24, then again on July 27, when straight-line winds and a tornado swept through the area. Oats and wheat were damaged along with the corn and soybean crops. The July 27 storm also affected Monroe County, where alfalfa and cranberries were damaged, as were corn and soybeans.
Counties included in the drought disaster declaration are Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Jackson, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas, Washburn, Waupaca, St. Croix, and Wood.
Drought conditions began in March in many of these counties, some of which also experienced extreme drought during last year's growing season. Despite rain fall last weekend and heavy rains overnight Aug. 13 and 14, drought damage persists. Some corn has already been chopped for silage because it was not developing, and while late rains help crops, yields are likely to be reduced. Many areas are so dry that the recent rains are not enough, and very heavy rains often run off rather than soaking into the soil, according to Doyle's statement.
Crops affected by the drought include alfalfa, oats, barley, mixed forage, corn, wheat and soybeans. "The ripple effects of these crop losses and reduced yields are already being felt, with some producers culling herds or switching to alternative feeds," Doyle said in a letter to Vilsack.
On Thursday, Gov. Jim Doyle asked U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to declare disasters in four southwestern Wisconsin counties hit hard by the July storms, according to a statement released by Doyle's staff.
A secretarial disaster declaration by Vilsack would allow crop producers to qualify for assistance, generally in the form of low-interest loans.
"Wisconsin farmers have seen the worst that Mother Nature can do in the past three growing seasons, with floods, drought, tornadoes and hail," Doyle said, in the statement. "This year, farmers are also facing the effects of a global economic recession. I am working hard with Secretary Vilsack to swiftly assist state farmers affected by drought and storms."
Doyle sought a federal disaster declaration for 41 counties suffering under drought conditions.
The four counties suffering storm damage are Crawford, Grant, Lafayette and Monroe.
Lafayette County was pounded by hail that damaged or destroyed thousands of acres of corn and soybeans. The corn was at a critical growth stage, and it was too late to replant crops.
Crawford and Grant counties experienced storms on July 24, then again on July 27, when straight-line winds and a tornado swept through the area. Oats and wheat were damaged along with the corn and soybean crops. The July 27 storm also affected Monroe County, where alfalfa and cranberries were damaged, as were corn and soybeans.
Counties included in the drought disaster declaration are Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Jackson, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas, Washburn, Waupaca, St. Croix, and Wood.
Drought conditions began in March in many of these counties, some of which also experienced extreme drought during last year's growing season. Despite rain fall last weekend and heavy rains overnight Aug. 13 and 14, drought damage persists. Some corn has already been chopped for silage because it was not developing, and while late rains help crops, yields are likely to be reduced. Many areas are so dry that the recent rains are not enough, and very heavy rains often run off rather than soaking into the soil, according to Doyle's statement.
Crops affected by the drought include alfalfa, oats, barley, mixed forage, corn, wheat and soybeans. "The ripple effects of these crop losses and reduced yields are already being felt, with some producers culling herds or switching to alternative feeds," Doyle said in a letter to Vilsack.