USDA designates parts of 3 states disaster areas
Fri Feb 17, 2006 5:27 PM ET
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WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department has designated counties in Massachusetts, Oregon and Texas as natural diaster areas, clearing the way for farmers and ranchers to apply for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA, the agency said on Friday.
Bristol and Plymouth counties in Massachusetts have suffered losses from a drought that occurred between June 1 and Sept. 30 in 2005. Neighboring Barnstable, Norfolk and Suffolk counties are also eligible for disaster assistance because of the drought.
Oregon's Hood River County, on the other hand, suffered losses from excessive rain in June 2005, making it a primary disaster area as well. Farmers in Clackamas, Multnomah and Wasco counties, which are attached to Hood River, also qualify for the assistance. Sherman county, also in the Pacific Northwestern state, experienced a drought in the 2005 crop year, along with neighboring Gilliam and Wasco counties.
A drought that started in August hurt several counties in Texas including Bandera, Bexar, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Jack, Washington, Colorado, Austin, Fayette, Jackson, Lavaca and Wharton counties. Callahan County was designated as a disaster area from fire and high winds on Dec. 26.
Some producers in the Texas areas also may be granted emergency haying and grazing acreage, the USDA said.
The designations were made Feb. 9 and farmers will have eight months from that date to apply for loans to help cover part of their losses, the USDA said.
Fri Feb 17, 2006 5:27 PM ET
Printer Friendly | Email Article | Reprints | RSS
WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department has designated counties in Massachusetts, Oregon and Texas as natural diaster areas, clearing the way for farmers and ranchers to apply for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA, the agency said on Friday.
Bristol and Plymouth counties in Massachusetts have suffered losses from a drought that occurred between June 1 and Sept. 30 in 2005. Neighboring Barnstable, Norfolk and Suffolk counties are also eligible for disaster assistance because of the drought.
Oregon's Hood River County, on the other hand, suffered losses from excessive rain in June 2005, making it a primary disaster area as well. Farmers in Clackamas, Multnomah and Wasco counties, which are attached to Hood River, also qualify for the assistance. Sherman county, also in the Pacific Northwestern state, experienced a drought in the 2005 crop year, along with neighboring Gilliam and Wasco counties.
A drought that started in August hurt several counties in Texas including Bandera, Bexar, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Jack, Washington, Colorado, Austin, Fayette, Jackson, Lavaca and Wharton counties. Callahan County was designated as a disaster area from fire and high winds on Dec. 26.
Some producers in the Texas areas also may be granted emergency haying and grazing acreage, the USDA said.
The designations were made Feb. 9 and farmers will have eight months from that date to apply for loans to help cover part of their losses, the USDA said.
