Link: http://www.usda.gov/2005/10/0421.xml Release No. 0421.05 Contact: Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178 USDA DESIGNATES COUNTIES IN TEXAS AS AGRICULTURAL DISASTER AREAS Decision Allows Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for USDA Assistance LUBBOCK, Texas, Oct., 5, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns designated seven counties in Texas as primary agricultural disaster areas, making certain farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers in the counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). "I'm pleased that USDA can offer assistance to farmers and ranchers who have struggled with severe drought and weather conditions," said Johanns. "These agriculture disaster designations will enable eligible producers to apply for low-interest emergency loans from USDA to help cover their losses." In Texas, Bowie, Rains, and Hunt Counties were designated as primary disaster areas on Sept. 19, 2005, due to losses caused by drought that occurred on April 1, 2005 and is continuing. Counties also eligible because they are contiguous to Bowie, Rains, and Hunt Counties are: Cass Collin Fannin Hopkins Kaufman Morris Red River Rockwell Van Zandt Wood Also in Texas, Foard County was designated as a primary disaster area on Sept. 19, 2005, due to drought that occurred from March 1, 2005, and is continuing. Counties also eligible because they are contiguous to Foard County are: Baylor Cottle Hardeman King Knox Wilbarger Also in Texas, Jim Wells County was designated as a primary disaster area on Sept. 19, 2005, due to losses caused by drought and high winds that occurred Jan. 1, 2005, and are continuing. Counties also eligible because they are contiguous to Jim Wells County are: Brooks Duval Kleberg Live Oak Nueces San Patricio Also in Texas, Kleberg County was designated as a primary disaster area on Sept. 19, 2005, due to losses caused by drought and excessive temperatures that occurred Jan. 1, 2005, and are continuing. Counties also eligible because they are contiguous to Kleberg County are: Brooks Jim Wells Kenedy Nueces Also in Texas, Red River County was designated as a primary disaster area on Sept. 19, 2005, due to losses caused by drought and excessive temperatures that occurred April 1, 2005, and are continuing. Counties also eligible because they are contiguous to Red River County are: Bowie Delta Franklin Hopkins Lamar Morris Titus All these counties were designated agricultural 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. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs available, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity. USDA has also made other programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Emergency Conservation Program, Federal Crop Insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov. USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to webservices@xxxxxxxx and reference your email address.
