USDA Adds To Ag Disaster List

WASHINGTON - Dec 7/05 - SNS -- The USDA designated counties in New York as primary natural disaster areas, making all qualified farm operators eligible for low-interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Chenango and Ulster Counties have been designated primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by excessive rain, flooding and flash flooding that occurred from April 1, 2005, through April 4, 2005.

Also eligible because they are contiguous and have sustained production losses due to the same disaster conditions are the following counties:

Broome       Cortland     Dutchess     Madison      Otsego
Columbia     Delaware     Greene       Orange       Sullivan

Due to losses caused by extreme and unseasonably cold temperatures, frost and freezes that occurred from May 3, 2005, through May 17, 2005, Columbia, Dutchess, Ontario, Rensselaer, Ulster, Wayne and Westchester Counties have been designated primary natural disaster areas.

Also eligible because they are contiguous and have sustained production losses due to the same disaster conditions are the following counties:

Albany         Greene         Putnam         Steuben
Bronx          Livingston     Rockland       Sullivan
Cayuga         Monroe         Saratoga       Washington
Delaware       Orange         Seneca         Yates

The counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Nov. 23, 2005, making all qualified farm operators eligible for EM loans, provided eligibility requirements are met.