SACRAMENTO—The federal government has renewed disaster declarations for all 58 California counties as well as four counties in southern Oregon because of the lingering drought, which is entering its fourth year.
The designation makes qualified farm operators eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency as well as a variety of other programs to help growers recover from adversity.
“Our hearts go out to those California farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities through these difficult times.”
All California counties except for Del Norte, Imperial and San Francisco counties were listed as primary natural disaster areas because of drought-related damages and losses. The three that weren’t are still eligible for benefits as contiguous counties.
In Oregon, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lake counties were designated as disaster areas, as were eight counties in Nevada and two in Arizona.
The latest declaration comes after the USDA designated every California county but San Francisco as disaster areas in 2013 and last year named portions of 11 drought-ridden western and central states as primary natural disaster areas.
The designation made Feb. 4 gives farmers in affected areas eight months to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. In considering applications, the Farm Service Agency will take into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability, a news release explains.
Additional programs to help farmers and ranchers include the Emergency Conservation Program, the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish program, and the Tree Assistance Program.
Interested growers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Centers for information, which can also be found at www.disaster.fsa.usda.gov .
Source: www.capitalpress.com