August 19, 2011

Gov. Nixon requests disaster declaration from USDA to help farmers in 23 counties impacted by heavy rain, flooding

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Jay Nixon today asked Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to designate 23 Missouri counties as primary disaster areas. The designation will permit assistance from the USDA's Farm Service Agency to farmers in those counties who have suffered losses to crops and property as a result of heavy rain and flooding since May of this year.

The counties requested by the Governor are Andrew, Atchison, Boone, Buchanan, Callaway, Carroll, Clark, Clay, Cole, Cooper, Franklin, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lewis, Moniteau, Montgomery, Platte, Ray, Saline, St. Louis and Warren.

"Missouri farmers across the state have faced many hardships this year related to the weather, and it is essential that they have the support they need to keep their farms operating after being affected by the floods and heavy rain," Gov. Nixon said. "A disaster declaration would bring in needed assistance to keep this vital part of our state's economy strong." 

Primary disaster counties are those that lose at least 30 percent of the estimated yield of a single crop, or where individual farmers suffer production losses of more than 30 percent.

A disaster designation would allow eligible farmers to be considered for assistance from the USDA's Farm Service Agency. Farmers who qualify would receive FSA emergency loans or assistance from the federal Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program. Affected farmers would apply to FSA, which considers each application individually on its merits. Farmers in counties contiguous to primary disaster areas also could be eligible for assistance.

The Governor's request for the disaster declaration comes after the Farm Service Agency conducted damage assessments at his request last month.