MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker has asked federal agriculture officials to declare disasters in four Wisconsin counties dealing with ginseng and soybean crop losses.
Walker asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to designate Lincoln, Marathon, Burnett and Polk counties disaster areas on Monday.
The governor says above-normal rainfall in August and September and cold temperatures in September hampered the ginseng harvest in Lincoln and Marathon counties. The delay caused root rot. As much as 75 percent of the counties' crop was lost.
He went on to say wet spring conditions in Burnett and Polk counties delayed soybean planting by two to three weeks. A killing frost struck in mid-September, ending the growing season prematurely. The counties lost as much as 36 percent of their crop.
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