USDA Designates More Ag Disaster Counties

WASHINGTON - Mar 29/05 - SNS -- The USDA designated numerous counties in Connecticut, Ohio, Texas and Utah as primary agricultural disaster areas.

In Connecticut, Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield and Tolland Counties were designated as primary disaster areas due to losses caused by an abnormally wet weather pattern that occurred from July 1, 2004, through Oct. 31, 2004.

Also eligible because they are contiguous are Middlesex, New Haven, New London and Windham Counties.

In Ohio, the following counties were designated as primary disaster areas due to losses caused by extreme weather conditions with freezing rain, ice, excessive rain, excessive snow, high winds, flash flooding, and flooding that occurred from Dec. 23, 2004, through Jan. 23, 2005.

Ashland	        Fairfield	Lake	   Morgan
Ashtabula	Geauga	        Licking	   Morrow
Clermont	Hancock	        Logan	   Muskingum
Delaware	Holmes	        Marion	   Wyandot

Also eligible because they are contiguous are the following counties:

Allen	   Coshocton	Hardin    Medina    Richland	Tuscarawas
Athens	   Crawford	Henry	  Noble	    Seneca	Union
Auglaize   Cuyahoga	Hocking   Perry	    Shelby	Warren
Brown	   Franklin	Huron	  Pickaway  Stark	Washington
Champaign  Guernsey	Knox	  Portage   Summit	Wayne
Clinton	   Hamilton	Lorain    Putnam    Trumbull	Wood

In Texas, Randall County was designated as a primary disaster area due to losses caused by excessive rain and flash flooding that occurred from Sept. 1, 2004, through Dec. 31 2004.

Also eligible because they are contiguous are Armstrong, Carson, Castro, Deaf Smith, Oldham, Potter and Swisher Counties.

Also in Texas, Roberts County was designated a primary disaster area due to losses caused by rain, a freeze, and excessive temperatures that occurred from Nov. 1, 2004, and continuing.

Also eligible because they are contiguous are counties Carson, Gray, Hansford, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Ochiltree and Wheeler Counties.

In Utah, Iron and Washington Counties were designated primary disaster areas due to losses caused by severe flooding that occurred from Jan. 9, 2005, through Jan. 11, 2005.

Also eligible because they are contiguous are Beaver, Garfield and Kane Counties.