Vermont Governor Jim Douglas and legislative leaders have announced an $8.9 million emergency relief package for Vermont’s farmers. According to a press release from the governor’s office, Douglas made the announcement at an emergency dairy summit he convened to discuss ways to provide both immediate and long term assistance to farmers.

“Working with the legislature, whose support for this package is appreciated, I am pleased to announce that the state will provide direct assistance to farmers totaling $8.6 million over the next few months,” Governor Douglas said. “We are taking this extraordinary step because our farmers have suffered the triple threat of low milk prices, high fuel prices and extreme weather that has destroyed crops and prevented the harvesting of hay.”

Also this week, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns designated the entire State of Vermont as a primary natural disaster area, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Counties in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York were also included in the declaration, according to a USDA release.