Extreme Weather Brings Agricultural Disaster in Utah

November. 4, 2008
Laura Hancock
Deseret News - Salt Lake City

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. issued an agricultural-disaster declaration Monday for Garfield, Millard, Sanpete, Piute and Box Elder counties.

The declaration came in response to damage caused by extreme weather conditions such as drought, high winds, fire and freezing temperatures, said Larry Lewis, spokesman of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

The majority of farmers and ranchers in those counties have suffered crop and forage-production losses of at least 30 percent, which qualifies them for disaster declaration. The estimated financial loss is $28.7 million, and some producers have been forced to liquidate their herds due to lack of forage, the department said.

In a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Shaffer, Huntsman asked for assistance to provide relief for the hundreds of farmers and ranchers who face substantial crop loss.

Lewis said the secretary would review and verify the accompanying data sent with the request. If the request is granted, the farmers will qualify for low-interest loans.

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