June 26, 2008

East Lansing, MI, -- In a continuing effort to assist the agricultural industry in Michigan, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces the designation of 60 counties in Michigan as agricultural disaster areas, making farmers in those regions immediately eligible for USDA/FSA physical loss emergency loans.

60 Michigan Counties have been designated as a natural disaster area due to storms with tornadoes, hail, and high winds that occurred from June 6 through June 15, 2008.

Nancy Dietz, Michigan’s State Executive Director indicates that “this assistance will go a long way in aiding farmers devastated by this weather event.” “We will continue to implement every available USDA program to assist farmers through this difficult condition.”

USDA designated 60counties as disaster areas. The counties are Alcona, Allegan, Antrim, Arenac, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Eaton, Genesee, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Ottawa, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Wayne Washtenaw and Wexford.

This designation makes qualified farm operators in primary and contiguous disaster counties eligible for low-interest physical loss EM loans from the Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have until February 25, 2009, to apply for the loans to help cover part of their losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merit, taking into account the extent of loss, ability to obtain other credit, security available and repayment ability.

Dietz stated the FSA will do its part to mobilize resources to help those farmers most affected by this fall’s weather conditions.