Gov. Brownback seeks disaster declarations from U.S. ag secretary

? Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to issue disaster declarations for several counties experiencing losses from drought and severe weather.

In a letter this week, Brownback requested that drought disasters be declared for Kiowa, Marion, McPherson and Pratt counties. They would be added to 46 counties for which drought disasters have already been declared this year.

Brownback has also requested an agricultural disaster declaration for 10 counties hit by floods, hail and high winds. Those counties are Atchison, Clay, Doniphan, Kiowa, Leavenworth, Osborne, Pratt, Sedgwick, Wallace and Wyandotte.

The governor says the extreme conditions have taken a toll on crop production and livestock across the state. He’s seeking eligibility for federal emergency loan and other agriculture aid.