Wyoming governor requests disaster help for beet farmers

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon seeks a federal disaster declaration to help farmers affected by cold weather in October.

Two cold spells with warm weather in between harmed sugar beet crops in northern and southeastern Wyoming.

Gordon tells Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue in a recent letter the first cold spell halted sugar beet growth and the warm weather caused beets to rot in storage.

The second cold spell made harvesting more beets impossible. Gordon wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare Laramie, Goshen and Platte counties in southeastern Wyoming and Park and Big Horn counties in northern Wyoming federal disaster areas.

The designation would enable affected farmers to qualify for financial aid to address the crop losses.

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