Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley Thursday asked the U.S. Agriculture Department to designate Sherman, Wasco and Jefferson counties as agricultural disaster areas in the wake of recent wildfires.  The Oregon senators’ request came in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in support of the same request by Oregon Govenor Kate Brown.  Wyden and Merkley noted the fully tally of losses from the fires that have burned more than 100,000 acres has yet to be compiled.  They say a disaster designation will allow farmers and local businesses to apply for emergency loans, insurance relief, and other assistance.  Wyden and Merkley recently joined with Brown to ask Perdue to make some of the $12 billion promised American farmers in trade war relief also available to Oregon farmers devastated by recent wildfires. They also have requested that Perdue provide emergency assistance for Oregon farmers whose crops have been decimated by this summer’s wildland fires.