Link: http://www.usda.gov/2005/10/0463.xml Release No. 0463.05 Contact: Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623 Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178 USDA DESIGNATES COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY AS NATURAL DISASTER AREAS Decision Allows Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for USDA Assistance WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2005 - Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner today announced that USDA designated 109 counties in Kentucky as primary natural disaster areas, making all qualified farm operators eligible for low-interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). "Dry conditions have devastated Kentucky producers this year," said Conner. "These funds can help ease the financial burdens that farmers and ranchers are facing by enabling eligible producers to apply for low-interest emergency loans from USDA to help cover their losses." In Kentucky, the following counties were designated as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that occurred from Feb. 1, 2005, and continuing. Adair Carroll Grayson Letcher Montgomery Shelby Allen Carter Green Lewis Morgan Simpson Anderson Casey Greenup Lincoln Muhlenberg Spencer Ballard Clark Hancock Livingston Nelson Taylor Barren Clinton Hardin Logan Nicholas Todd Bath Crittenden Harrison Lyon Ohio Trimble Bell Cumberland Hart Madison Oldham Union Boone Daviess Henry Magoffin Owen Warren Bourbon Edmonson Hopkins Marion Owsley Washington Boyd Elliott Jackson Marshall Pendleton Wayne Boyle Estill Jefferson Martin Perry Webster Bracken Fayette Jessamine Mason Pike Whitley Breckinridge Fleming Johnson McCracken Powell Wolfe Bullitt Floyd Kenton McCreary Pulaski Woodford Butler Franklin Knott Meade Robertson Caldwell Gallatin Larue Menifee Rockcastle Calloway Garrard Lawrence Mercer Rowan Campbell Grant Lee Metcalfe Russell Carlisle Graves Leslie Monroe Scott Also eligible because they are contiguous are: Breathitt Clay Henderson Knox McLean Christian Harlan Hickman Laurel Trigg These counties were designated on Oct. 25, 2005, making all qualified farm operators eligible for low-interest 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.
