(Des Moines)– Governor Kim Reynolds announced today (Fri.) she’s seeking a federal disaster designation from U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue for 57 Iowa counties impacted by the derecho earlier this month. Several northwest Iowa counties are included in the request, including Cherokee, Ida, Plymouth, Sac and Woodbury.
If approved, the designation would enable producers in designated counties and contiguous counties to immediately access emergency low-interest loans through the Farm Service Agency as well as making them eligible for USDA disaster programs.
The August 10th derecho packed winds in excess of 100 mph causing widespread damage and power outages. USDA’s Risk Management Agency determined the storm affected 57 Iowa counties. Preliminary estimates are that 3.57 million acres of corn and 2.5 million acres of soybeans were severely damaged with millions more acres affected to varying degrees.
