Feds Declare Entire State Agricultural Natural Disaster Area
by September 7, 2011 7:00 pm 45 views
Gov. Mike Beebe (D) received word today 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.
The designation will allow farmers across the state to 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.
Arkansas was hit hard in the spring of this year after massive flooding and strong storms wiped out crops and farmland. Then this summer, record high temperatures caused drought and hurt crops, livestock and poultry.