By Staff
EAST LANSING – Berrien and Cass counties are among those designated to be immediately eligible for USDA/FSA physical loss emergency loans.
In a continuing effort to assist the agricultural industry in Michigan, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces the designation of 60 counties in Michigan as agricultural disaster areas, due to storms with tornadoes, hail, and high winds that occurred from June 6 through June 15, 2008.
Nancy Dietz, Michigan's State Executive Director indicates that "this assistance will go a long way in aiding farmers devastated by this weather event." "We will continue to implement every available USDA program to assist farmers through this difficult condition."
This designation makes qualified farm operators in primary and contiguous disaster counties eligible for low-interest physical loss EM loans from the Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have until Feb. 25, 2009, to apply for the loans to help cover part of their losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merit, taking into account the extent of loss, ability to obtain other credit, security available and repayment ability.
Dietz stated the FSA will do its part to mobilize resources to help those farmers most affected by this fall's weather conditions.