Lawmakers Urge Federal Officials For Financial Support for Farmers

(KNSI) – Both Minnesota Senators and the state’s entire congressional delegation signed a letter asking the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to help Minnesota farmers devastated by storm damage.

The letter was sent on Monday to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for a disaster declaration. Lawmakers offered their support for Governor Tim Walz’s request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Farm Service Agency and the Administrator’s Physical Loss Notice to help farmers hurt by this spring’s extreme weather.

Lawmakers say recent storms produced heavy rains, straight-line winds, and tornados that damaged barns and silos. The storms also knocked out power. According to the University of Minnesota’s preliminary climate summary for April, the average daily temperature was six to eight degrees below normal and northwestern Minnesota experienced its wettest April since 1895.

Colder wet weather has delayed planting. According to the letter, farmers have 35% of their corn planted, 11% soybeans, 5% wheat, and 8% sugarbeets. Officials say planting lags significantly behind the 5-year average.

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