County applies for federal drought aid

DeKalb County residents could find out as early as Monday whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich considers northern Illinois a drought-disaster area and will seek federal assistance to help farmers. Northern Illinois has been hit the hardest in a drought that stretches throughout the state and into lower Wisconsin, said Chris Herbert, Illinois Department of Agriculture spokeswoman. All 105 Illinois counties have reported drought conditions and entered reports on their crop losses with the state, she said. Only in the worst of droughts - the last one being in 1988 - have all counties entered reports. "It's been a rough year for farmers," Herbert said. From preliminary examination of the reports, which include expected crop yields, the extent of crop l