Counties Designated Disaster Areas

February 24, 2006 -- This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated counties in Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin as primary natural disaster areas, making all qualified farm operators eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA?s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for the loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

Interested farmers should contact their local USDA Service Center for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures.

Log on to the FSA Web site at www.fas.usda.govto access the list of counties included in these declarations.