Wisconsin Ag Connection - Schultz Asked Doyle for Assistance in Grant, Lafayette Counties

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Schultz Asked Doyle for Assistance in Grant, Lafayette Counties
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 07/29/2009

The former chairman of the Wisconsin State Senate Agriculture Committee is asking Governor Jim Doyle to 'make any and all' state and federal assistance available to people affected by last week's storm damage to that area. Senator Dale Schultz says he toured parts of both counties this week and believes the damage is sufficient enough to warrant a secretarial designation for assistance.

"In anticipation of county storm damage estimates being completed, I have asked the Governor to not only make state assistance available to help with damage but also to appeal to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for federal help with crop and farm building losses," Schultz said.

The Richland Center Republican says this type of weather could not have hit at a worse time for these farmers and farm-based communities, who are also struggling with very low commodity prices this summer.

On July 24, an estimated 20,000 acres of corn sustained hail and wind damage, while about 10,000 acres of soybeans were lost. Officials say it will be days before they know the full impact of the storm, which created two tornadoes, torrential rains and hail.

In addition to the crop damage, five buildings were destroyed by straight-line winds, mostly in rural Shullsburg and in the eastern town of New Diggings.

Officials from Lafayette County Emergency Management say they will also likely pursue federal disaster assistance.