Lewis County farmers and ranchers facing hardship due to the drought can now apply for federal financial assistance.
The secretary of agriculture automatically activated a disaster designation for multiple Washington state counties on June 24 when eight counties reached severe drought conditions as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The eight primary disaster counties are: Adams, Columbia, Grant, Walla Walla, Benton, Franklin, Klickitat and Yakima.
Because Lewis County borders Yakima County, farmers and ranchers are also eligible for low-interest emergency loans. Farmers in Douglas, King, Okanogan, Skamania, Garfield, Kittitas, Lincoln, Pierce and Whitman counties also qualify for help.
“If drought worsens in our country, we may be implementing additional disaster relief programs,” said Martha Dorsey, county executive director for the Farm Service Agency. “It’s important that farmers and ranchers report damage and losses to the FSA office to help us assess the overall drought situation in case we need to request approval to offer additional programs.”
Farmers and ranchers can apply for low-interest emergency loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. The loans can be used to restore or replace property, pay associated production costs, living expenses, reorganize operations or refinance debts.
Farmers have eight months to apply for the loans to help cover part of their losses from June 24. The up to 40-year loans have a 3.375 percent interest rate. Each application will be considered based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
The Livestock Forage; Emergency Conservation; Livestock Indemnity; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish; and the Tree Assistance programs also offer assistance to farmers and ranchers.
For additional information visit disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
