Gov. Scott Walker has asked federal officials to declare an agricultural disaster in Wisconsin counties that suffered fruit and vine losses during this spring's fluctuating temperatures.
Wisconsin saw a mix of unseasonably warm weather followed by cold and frosty conditions from March through May. The governor says fruit trees and vines flowered early but frost killed many of the buds and initial projections show losses could be as high as 80 percent. Actual losses will be determined later this fall.
Walker sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Friday asking him to issue a secretarial disaster declaration for all counties that suffered losses.
A USDA spokesman says the agency will dispatch field staff to assess damages to help Vilsack make his decision.
