USDA OKs Disaster Request for Kosciusko, Other County Farms
Posted
Jordan Fouts-
Kosciusko is one of 53 counties covered in a secretarial disaster request approved Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Gov. Mike Pence, Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann and Indiana Farm Service Agency Executive Director Julia Wickard requested the declaration in late July to help farmers affected by heavy flooding since the start of May. Indiana farmers lost close to $500 million in corn and soybeans, according to Purdue University estimates, while 25 percent of corn and 24 percent of soybeans in the state were listed in “poor” or “very poor” condition in the latest figures. The USDA projects that Indiana farmers will harvest 867.4 million bushels of corn on an average of 158 bushels per acre this fall, according to information from Purdue University – a 20 percent drop from last year’s record 1.08 billion bushels on 168 per acre. Indiana soybean farmers were projected to bring in 278.8 million bushels on 49 per acre, down 9.3 percent from last year when they produced a state second-best record of 307.4 million bushels on 56 per acre. “In 50 counties, reported crop damage and losses have met or exceeded 30 percent of a crop, and three counties have experienced a significant number of damages and losses to multiple crops,” the request letter states, adding that farmers should continue submitting crop damage reports to county Farm Service Agency offices and that additional counties may be added to the request. “Under a disaster designation, low-interest emergency loans will be made available to all producers suffering losses in that county, as well as in counties contiguous to a disaster-designated county.” Crops in the southern part of Kosciusko were worst hit in the county, reflecting the uneven nature of the damage statewide, where some individual fields had both heavily damaged sections and some that will still produce good yields, according to Purdue. The flooding also was responsible for watercraft restrictions being declared for Lake Wawasee, Lake Tippecanoe and the Barbee Lakes chain later in July. Thirty-five counties contiguous to those worst affected also are included in the declaration, as well as contiguous counties in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. But crop losses in the region are expected to be offset by well-above average yields in Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas and Nebraska, leaving a strong projection nationally, according to information from Purdue. “Farms in counties all across the state have suffered because of the excessive rainfall we’ve experienced during our spring and summer months this year,” Pence said in a release from his office after Wednesday’s approval. “I’m thankful to the Indiana Farm Service Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture for recognizing the need for assistance for our Hoosier farmers, and I hope that those affected will apply for the loans they need.” Ellspermann, who is also Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, expressed gratitude to the USDA as well and confidence that farmers will recover next year. Sen. Joe Donnelly, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee and who also sent a letter supporting the declaration request, said in a statement he welcomes the news. Through the FSA Emergency Loan Program, made available through the 2014 federal farm bill, producers can borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses to a maximum amount of $500,000, according to FSA documents. Farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. For more information on FSA disaster assistance, visit disaster.fsa.usda.gov and for information on emergency loans, visit fsa.usda.gov/farmloans.
