USDA Declares Ag Disaster Counties

WASHINGTON - Nov 2/05 - SNS -- The USDA designated counties and parishes in Louisiana, Nebraska, Oregon and Texas as primary natural disaster areas, making all qualified farm operators eligible for low-interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).

In Louisiana, 40 parishes were designated as primary natural disaster areas due to cumulative losses caused by drought, followed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that occurred from Mar. 1, 2005, and continuing. Those parishes are:

Acadia          Caldwell        Franklin         Morehouse       St. Martin
Allen           Cameron         Grant            Natchioches     Tensas
Avoyelles       Catahoula       Jackson          Ouachita        Union
Beauregard      Clairborne      Jefferson Davis  Rapides         Vermilion
Bienville       Concordia       La Salle         Red River       Vernon
Bossier         De Soto         Lafayette        Richland        Webster
Caddo           East Carroll    Lincoln          Sabine          West Carroll
Calcasicu       Evangeline      Madison          St. Landry      Winn

Also eligible because they are contiguous are Assumption, Iberia, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Mary and West Feliciana Parishes.

In Nebraska, Holt County was designated as a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by cool, wet weather that occurred from May 24, 2005, through June 10, 2005.

Also eligible because they are contiguous are Antelope, Boyd, Garfield, Keya Raha, Knox, Loup, Rock and Wheeler Counties.

In Oregon, Douglas County was designated as a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by a combination of severe weather conditions; including drought, heavy rains, a late freeze and unseasonably cold weather that occurred from Jan. 1, 2005, and continuing.

Also eligible because they are contiguous are Coos, Curry, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lane Counties.

Lynn County was designated as a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by excessive ongoing rains that occurred from Mar. 1, 2005, through May 15, 2005.

Also eligible because they are contiguous are Benton, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lane, Marion and Polk Counties.

Due to losses caused by rain and frost events that occurred from Mar. 1, 2005, through May 31, 2005, Wasco County was designated as a primary natural disaster area.

Also eligible because they are contiguous are Clackamas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Marion, Sherman and Wheeler Counties.

In Texas, Delta County was designated as a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by drought that occurred from Apr. 1, 2005, and continuing.

Also eligible because they are contiguous are Fannin, Franklin, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar and Red River Counties.

The counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas, making all qualified farm operators eligible for EM loans, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for the loans to help cover part of their actual losses.