The request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture is for drought conditions that began on Aug. 1.

The 35 counties are mostly in western Kentucky.

Beshear said in a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack that the drought has "critically impacted" the state's agriculture sector.

Beshear says the drought impacted the early harvest of corn and reduced yields of all crops, and also reduced water supplies and pasture land for livestock.