USDA grants Gov. Branstad’s request for disaster designation

State of Iowa Seal

DES MOINES, Iowa – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved Gov. Branstad’s request for disaster designation in six Iowa counties affected by the Missouri River flooding. The letter, which was received today by The Office of Gov. Terry E. Branstad, gives disaster designation to Freemont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury counties.

“I am pleased the Department of Agriculture has recognized the devastation the Iowans in these counties are facing,” said Branstad. “This designation will allow Iowa farmers to receive much needed assistance through federal emergency loans.”

In addition to granting disaster designation to the six counties, USDA officials also named Cass, Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, Montgomery, Page, Plymouth and Shelby counties as contiguous disaster areas.

A disaster designation makes farm operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for assistance from the FSA, provided eligibility requirements are met. The assistance includes FSA loans and Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of a disaster declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance. SURE Program applications for 2011 crop losses will be accepted in 2012, when the 2011 farm revenue data required by statute becomes available.

For more information, please visit www.Governor.Iowa.gov.