Farm trouble

The heat, drought and floods have had a negative impact in all Arkansas counties.

The office of Gov. Mike Beebe received word Thursday (Sept. 8) that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared all 75 Arkansas counties as agricultural natural-disaster areas. Beebe requested the designation earlier this summer after a wide range of natural disasters impacted Arkansas farmers.

Under the declaration, farmers across the state may apply for assistance through their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. That assistance may include both emergency loans and direct aid from the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program if a farmer meets eligibility requirements.

Beebe requested the assistance in late July after flooding, drought, excessive heat, wind and hail battered crops beginning in April.

Farmers in all 75 counties will now have eight months to file their applications for disaster assistance.