Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make resources available to 17 South Dakota counties affected by flooding. USDA has designated three counties agriculture disaster areas and an additional 14 as contiguous disaster areas. The designation will allow qualifying residents in areas affected by flooding to be eligible for federal assistance.
"This year’s flooding has taken a great toll on ag in South Dakota and these designations will help producers take advantage of important USDA programs,” Johnson said. “I have been and will continue working closely with the Administration to help folks in our state get access to resources they need to recover from this year’s natural disasters.”
South Dakota counties receiving agriculture disaster designations: Clay, Marshall and Sanborn. Counties receiving contiguous disaster designations: Aurora, Beadle, Brown, Davison, Day, Hanson, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lincoln, Miner, Roberts, Turner, Union and Yankton.
Under the designation announced by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, producers are eligible to apply for Farm Service Agency Emergency Loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program. FSA will take into account losses, security available and repayment ability.
More information can be found online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov. Producers should visit their local FSA office for assistance.
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