AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK HAS APPROVED TWO AGRICULTURE DISASTER DECLARATIONS FROM GOVERNOR FREUDENTHAL. THE FIRST DECLARATION IS FOR CROPS DAMAGED BY HAIL IN PLATTE COUNTY. THE DESIGNATION ALSO APPLIES TO ALBANY, CONVERSE, GOSHEN, LARAMIE AND NIOBRARA COUNTIES. THE OTHER DISASTER AREA IS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE, WHERE AN EARLY FREEZE DRASTICALLY CUT THE SUGAR BEET HARVEST, AND ALSO IMPACTED OTHER CROPS. PARK AND BIG HORN COUNTIES WERE HIT THE HARDEST. FARMERS IN FREMONT, HOT SPRINGS, JOHNSON, SHERIDAN, TETON AND WASHAKIE COUNTIES MAY ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL DISASTER HELP.
