USDA Designates More Ag Disaster Counties

WASHINGTON - Mar 2/06 - SNS -- The USDA designated counties in Kansas, Montana and 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).

In Kansas, Cheyenne, Sherman and Wallace Counties were designated as primary disaster areas.

Cheyenne was designated as a primary disaster area due to losses caused by drought, excessive heat and high winds that occurred during the period from Jan. 1, 2005, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous and have sustained production losses due to the same disaster conditions are Rawlins and Sherman counties.

Sherman and Wallace Counties were designated as primary disaster areas due to losses caused by severe storms that occurred on June 19, 2005, through July 1, 2005. Also eligible because they are contiguous and have sustained production losses due to the same disaster conditions are Cheyenne, Greeley, Logan, Rawlins, Thomas and Wichita Counties.

In Montana, Hill County was designated as a primary disaster area on Jan. 27, 2006, due to losses caused by a severe hail and windstorm that occurred on Aug. 10, 2005, and by drought that occurred from Jan. 1, 2005, and continuing.

Also eligible because they are contiguous and have sustained production losses due to the same disaster conditions are Blaine, Chouteau and Liberty Counties.

In New York, Cayuga, Ontario, Tompkins and Wayne Counties were designated primary disaster areas due to losses caused by extremely cold temperatures and a freeze that occurred on Dec. 20, 2004.

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

Chemung      Onondaga     Steuben
Cortland     Oswego       Tioga
Livingston   Schuyler     Yates
Monroe       Seneca