Governor Tim Pawlenty sent a letter today to United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack requesting that an agricultural disaster be declared for Chippewa, Renville, Wright and Freeborn Counties in Minnesota.

Farmers in these counties have experienced significant crop losses in 2010 due to difficult growing conditions caused by a late frost and other cumulative weather events.

The Loss Assessment Reports (LAR) indicates that affected apple and grape growers experienced crop losses of 30 percent or more due to frost damage in Chippewa, Renville and Wright counties, and tornados, hail storms, heavy rains and flooding in Freeborn County.

The Governor’s letter requests that affected farmers be made eligible for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s low-interest Emergency Loan program administered by the Farm Service Agency.