Governor seeks relief for Mass. farmers

BOSTON—Gov. Deval Patrick is asking federal agricultural officials to declare the cool, wet summer a disaster for most Massachusetts farms, making growers eligible for up to $500,000 in low-interest government loans.

Patrick writes in a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that farmers need the help because of crop losses “due to excessive moisture, flooding, hail and cool temperatures.“ The letter was released Tuesday.

The state’s farms have experienced losses from 30 percent to 100 percent because of weather or disease. State officials say yellow corn, strawberry, tobacco, potato and tomato crops have been severely damaged.

If a disaster is declared, farmers who have suffered at least 30 percent production loss would be eligible for loans. Only Suffolk County and the islands are not included in the request.