California Counties Declared Ag Disasters

WASHINGTON - May 24/04 - SNS -- The USDA declared two counties in California as primary agricultural disaster areas.

San Luis Obispo and Placer Counties are designated as primary disaster areas. In San Luis Obispo County the damages and losses were caused by Wheat Stripe Rust that resulted from unseasonable rainfall that occurred from May 1, 2003, through July 31, 2003. In Placer County the damages and losses were caused by Wheat Stripe Rust due to unseasonable rainfall that occurred from June 15, 2003, through Nov. 15, 2003.

Also eligible because they are contiguous to San Luis Obispo County are Kern, Kings, Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties. And eligible because they are contiguous to Placer County are El Dorado, Nevada, Sacramento, Sutter and Yuba Counties.

These counties were designated on May 17, 2004, making all qualified farm operators eligible for low-interest emergency (EM) loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), 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.