DROUGHT RELIEF MAY BE COMING TO FARMERS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY TENNESSEE. STATE REPRESENTATIVE DALE FORD, A JONESBORO REPUBLICAN, HAS MET WITH GOVERNOR BREDESEN ABOUT THE MATTER, AND SAYS FARMERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR REGION, AND NEED SOME ASSISTANCE. ACCORDING TO FORD, LOCAL FARMERS HAVE SUFFERED TWO YEARS IN A ROW FROM DROUGHT CONDITIONS, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR FARMING FAMILIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET. WASHINGTON COUNTY IS ONE OF 28 COUNTIES IN THE STATE FOR WHICH ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN REQUESTED. FORD SAID FARMERS IN THESE COUNTIES HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH CROP LOSSES BECAUSE OF MUCH LOWER THAN AVERAGE RAINFALL.