Dear Governor Fletcher:

I am writing today to request that you join me in asking for an agricultural disaster declaration for Kentucky.

Over the past few days, unseasonably cold weather hit Kentucky, severely damaging much of the state’s fruit, hay and winter wheat crop.  Fruit growers tell us the cold snap destroyed 90 percent or more of their 2007 crop.  The situation is the same for grape growers who supply Kentucky’s growing $24 million wine industry.  Ninety-five percent of the first cutting of alfalfa in the state was destroyed. The damage to the winter wheat crop is still being assessed but appears to be extensive.

As you are aware, agriculture is the backbone of Kentucky’s economy.  Kentucky growers produced nearly $2.38 million worth of apples and nearly $1.26 million worth of peaches in 2006.  Kentucky winemakers bottled some 61,000 cases of wine in 2006, much of it from Kentucky grapes.  Wheat accounted for $66 million in farmgate receipts to Kentucky growers in 2005.  And Kentucky is 10th in hay production in the United States.  Losses of this size could be devastating to the livelihood of many growers and the jobs their farms support.

I appreciate your timely consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Richie Farmer

Commissioner of Agriculture