Washington, Iron counties designated natural disaster counties

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Washington and Iron counties are among 47 counties designated as contiguous natural disaster counties by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Gov. Jay Nixon’s office announced last week.

Another 28 counties were designated as primary natural disaster areas. The disaster designations are due to the rain, strong winds and flooding that caused agricultural production losses from Feb. 1 through July 31.

Nixon requested the designation from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in September.

“Missouri farmers suffered significant losses from storms this spring and summer,” Nixon said. “Weather caused a delay in planting, decreased yields and resulted in economic difficulty for many family farmers…Missouri’s agricultural industry is the backbone of our economy, and we must do everything we can to protect it.”

The USDA designation allows eligible farmers in primary disaster areas and contiguous counties to be considered for assistance from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Farmers who qualify may receive FSA emergency loans or assistance from the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program. Affected farmers must apply to FSA, which considers each application individually on its merits.

Counties designated as primary natural disaster areas include: Adair, Caldwell, Carroll, Cedar, Crawford, Daviess, DeKalb, Dunklin, Gentry, Harrison, Knox, Laclede, Marion, Mercer, Mississippi, Montgomery, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Phelps, Pulaski, Ripley, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Warren and Worth.

In addition to Washington and Iron counties, the contiguous disaster counties: are Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barton, Buchanan, Butler, Callaway, Camden, Carter, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Grundy, Holt, Lafayette, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Maries, Miller, Monroe, Oregon, Osage, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Scott, St. Charles, St. Clair, Stoddard, Texas, Vernon, Webster and Wright.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama designated 46 counties as major disaster areas, including St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Iron, Madison and Washington. That designation was made in response to storms in May. 

 

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com

Archives Web Site Marketplace Obits Babies Jobs