Farmers throughout the state who suffered crop losses due to excessive rainfall can apply for low-interest emergency loans from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday approved a secretarial disaster declaration for 53 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Gov. Mike Pence, Lt. Gov. Sue Ellsperman and Indiana Farm Service Agency Executive Director Julia A. Wickard made the request in late July after farmers suffered significant crop damage and losses as a result of flooding and excessive rain that started May 1st.
Starke, Pulaski, Marshall and LaPorte are among the 53 counties for which assistance was approved. Farmers in contiguous counties can also apply for loans. That provision makes nearly the entire state eligible for assistance. Click Disaster Declaration Counties 8.12.2015 for a complete list of eligible counties.
“Farms in counties all across the state have suffered because of the excessive rainfall we’ve experienced during our spring and summer months this year,” Pence said in a statement. “I’m thankful to the Indiana Farm Service Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture for recognizing the need for assistance for our Hoosier farmers, and I hope that those affected will apply for the loans they need.”
Farmers interested in applying for loans can visit http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=in&agency=fsa and contact their local FSA offices for application details. Click US Department of Agriculture Information for details about loan uses, eligibility and loan requirements.
