Kentucky Seeks Federal Assistance for Drought-affected Farmers

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear sent a request to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer requesting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster assistance be made available to farmers across the commonwealth due to crop losses resulting from widespread drought conditions that began in early 2008 and continue today.

“Kentucky has experienced limited rainfall this year, causing the state to move into drought status, which is supported by the Palmer Drought Index and Crop Moisture Index,” Beshear said.

“Our farmers were dealt a severe setback with the record drought of 2007 and are now forced to cope with another drought in 2008. The financial burden of two consecutive years of weather-related disasters could be overwhelming for many of our state’s farm families if they do not receive disaster relief,” Gov. Beshear said in his request.

Evaluations also are currently underway to determine which Kentucky counties may have experienced crop damage as a result of the storms and strong winds that recently affected the state.

Source: Office of the Governor of Kentucky