Pawlenty requests ag disaster declaration
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is requesting a federal agricultural disaster declaration for Mahnomen County in northwestern Minnesota due to heavy rains last summer.
He sent a letter late this week to new Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa.
Pawlenty's letter says the sugar beet crop sustained extensive damage due to excessive rains in August, September, October and November; as well as freezing temperatures in November.
Pawlenty is requesting federal aid for affected farmers. Specifically, he's asking for all categories of assistance available through the low-interest emergency loan program administered by the Farm Service Agency.
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