By Chad Lampe
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen wants additional federal disaster assistance for farmers in Northwest Tennessee after a growing season of excessive heat and drought. Bredesen requested additional assistance 12 counties including Weakley, Carroll and Benton. Farmers in these counties have reported crop losses from
30 to 50 percent, and higher in some cases. Livestock producers have also reported feeding winter stocks of hay earlier than normal due to very poor pasture conditions. The governor requested similar assistance for some eastern counties last month and received the aid this month.