(Des Moines)– The Iowa State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency has designated 22 Iowa counties as part of a Secretarial Natural Disaster Declaration. Farm operators who have suffered major production and/or physical losses caused by combined effects of freezing temperatures and continuing drought conditions may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans.
Three Minnesota counties have been designated as primary disaster areas due to freezing temperatures that occurred this past Tuesday (April 9th) through today (Thursday, April 11th). Five Iowa counties are contiguous to the designated area, making them eligible. Dickinson, Emmet and Osceola counties are among the five. The final date for making application under the designation is August 5th, 2013.
Kossuth county has been designated as a primary disaster area for drought conditions beginning March 15th, 2013. Seven Iowa counties are contiguous to that designated area, including Emmet, Humboldt, Palo Alto and Pocahontas counties in our area. The final date for making application under this designation is November 20th, 2013.
Producers with questions or needing more information should contact their local FSA office.
