Associated Press

Gov. John Hoeven wants the U.S. agriculture secretary to declare 39 counties in North Dakota as disaster areas.

Hoeven made the request today to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. If Schafer approves the request, some federal assistance would be available for farmers and ranchers affected both by drought and wet weather.

Hoeven says he made the request due to dry conditions in the western and central part of the state, coupled with late season rain and snow in some eastern counties that has slowed the harvesting of sugar beets, corn and soybeans.

Hoeven says damage assessment reports justify a disaster declaration.

A disaster declaration would make agricultural producers and business people eligible for emergency low-interest loans and debt restructuring from the USDA and the Small Business Administration.