Tuesday, September 7, 2010 4:55 pm

Gov. Beshear Requests USDA Disaster Assistance
Level 1 Drought Issued in Western and West-central Kentucky

 FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 7, 2010) – On behalf of Kentucky’s farm families, Gov. Steve Beshear today requested disaster assistance from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, as a result of drought conditions that began Aug. 1.   

  “The current drought conditions have critically impacted our agriculture sector,” stated Gov. Steve Beshear in a letter to Secretary Vilsack.  “Impacts include early harvest of corn, substantially reduced yields of all crops, loss of pasture for grazing and loss of water supplies for livestock.”

The following 35 counties were included in the Governor’s request: 

On Sept. 2, the Office of the State Climatologist and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, in coordination with the Kentucky Drought Mitigation Team, issued a Level 1 Drought Declaration for counties in western Kentucky. 

Information about USDA Disaster Assistance Programs is available at www.fsa.usda.gov by clicking on the Disaster Assistance Program link in the left-hand column.