USDA Designates Ag Disaster Counties

WASHINGTON - May 4/04 - SNS -- The USDA designated several counties in California, Michigan, Montana and Texas as primary agricultural disaster areas.

Placer County in California is designated as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by rain, winter chill and heat that occurred from Aug. 1, 2003, through Oct. 31, 2004. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of El Dorado, Nevada, Sacramento, Sutter and Yuba.

San Luis Obispo County in California is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by insufficient chill hours, rain and heat that occurred from April 1, 2003, through Oct. 31, 2003. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Kern, Kings, Monterey and Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara County in California is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by insufficient chill hours, cool, wet weather and heat. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Kern, San Luis Obispo and Ventura.

On Oct. 8, 2003, thirteen Michigan counties were quarantined due to emerald ash borer infestation. The counties located within the quarantined area are Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Shiawassee, Washtenaw and Wayne. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola.

Eleven Montana counties and three Indian Tribal areas are designated as primary natural disaster areas for drought that occurred from Jan. 1, 2003, and continuing. The counties are Chouteau, Garfield, Granite, Mineral, Petroleum, Pondera, Prairie, Missoula, Ravalli, Treasure and Valley. The Indian Tribal areas are the Blackfeet Tribe, Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe, and Ft. Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. Alsoeligible because it is contiguous is Roosevelt County.

Nine counties in Texas are designated as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that occurred from Jan. 1, 2003, and continuing. These counties are Crockett, Glasscock, Hardeman, Howard, Irion, Jones, Reagan, Upton and Williamson. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the following counties:

Bastrop        Dawson         Milam          Stonewall
Bell           Ector          Mitchell       Sutton
Borden         Fisher         Nolan          Taylor
Burnet         Foard          Pecos          Terrell
Callahan       Haskell        Schleicher     Tom Green
Childress      Lee            Scurry         Travis
Cottle         Martin         Shackelford    Val Verde
Crane          Midland        Sterling       Wilbarger

In Texas the counties of Crane, Ector, Haskell, Loving, Presidio, Reeves, Ward and Winkler are designated as primary disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought and winds that occurred from Jan. 1, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Andrews, Baylor, Brewster, Crockett, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jones, King, Knox, Midland, Pecos, Shackelford, Stonewall, Throckmorton and Upton.

Martin County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought and winds that occurred from Jan. 1, 2003, through Dec. 31, 2003. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Andrews, Borden, Dawson, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard and Midland.

Motley County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought, winds and static electricity that occurred from July 1, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Briscoe, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hall and King.

San Saba County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from Oct. 15, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Brown, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, McCulloch and Mills.

Mason County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought and high winds that occurred from Oct. 1, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Gillespie, Kimble, Lano, McCulloch, Menard and San Saba.

Palo Pinto County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from Oct. 1, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Eastland, Erath, Hood, Jack, Parker, Stephens and Young.

Bastrop County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from March 1, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Lee, Travis and Williamson.

Dickens County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought and excessive temperatures that occurred from Aug. 1, 2003, through Dec. 18, 2003. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Cottle, Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Kent, King, Motley and Stonewall.

Caldwell County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from March 15, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Bastrop, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays and Travis.

Kent County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought and excessive temperatures that occurred from Aug. 1, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Crosby, Dickens, Fisher, Garza, King, Scurry and Stonewall.

Montague County in Texas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from April 15, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Clay, Cooke, Jack and Wise.