SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – In response to the devastating storms that struck the State of Illinois on June 29 and 30 of this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared a Natural Disaster for multiple counties in our listening area.
The USDA has determined that the agricultural losses sustained in the affected counties warrant a Secretarial Natural Disaster Declaration. This designation provides critical support to farm operators, allowing them to apply for emergency loans through the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Farmers within Washington, Randolph, Perry, St. Clair, Jefferson, Marion, and Clinton counties, now have the opportunity to apply for FSA emergency loans to address losses to both buildings and crops.
The application period extends for 8 months from the date of designation, providing affected farmers with the time needed to access the necessary assistance.
The storms, which included a Derecho and multiple tornadoes, inflicted substantial losses on farmland across the state, prompting the USDA to take decisive action.
All eligible farmers are urged to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for FSA emergency loans. This support is instrumental in rebuilding and recovering from the substantial losses incurred.
To obtain detailed information about eligibility criteria and the application process, farmers are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency.
