Vernon County producers could be eligible for disaster relief due to flooding

Governor Jay Nixon announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 28 Missouri counties as primary natural disaster areas because of rain, strong winds and flooding which caused agricultural production losses. Gov. Nixon requested the designation from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Sept. 24. The designation from the USDA covers damages sustained by Missouri farmers during the period of Feb. 1, 2009, through July 31.

"Missouri farmers suffered significant losses from storms this spring and summer," Gov. Nixon said. "Weather caused a delay in planting, decreased yields and resulted in economic difficulty for many family farmers. I am pleased that Secretary Vilsack has agreed to provide the assistance that Missouri farmers need during this time by granting the disaster designation. Missouri's agricultural industry is the backbone of our economy, and we must do everything we can to protect it."

Wet weather persisted in the spring in Vernon County. Area rivers flooded, and heavy rains set back planting for many area farmers. In May, flash flooding continued, with a deluge of 3-6 inches falling the morning of May 9, even flooding some parts of Nevada R-5 buildings temporarily.

Then, in June, more rain and even a tornado struck the area. The small tornado did little damage, but storms continued, bringing still more flood warnings the next week.

The disaster designation allows eligible farmers in primary disaster areas and contiguous counties to be considered for assistance from the USDA's Farm Service Agency. Farmers who qualify may receive FSA emergency loans or assistance from the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program. Affected farmers must apply to FSA, which considers each application individually on its merits.

In addition to farmers in the 28 primary disaster area counties, the designation also permits farmers in 47 contiguous disaster counties to seek available federal assistance; that's where Vernon County comes in.

Counties designated as primary natural disaster areas include: Adair, Caldwell, Carroll, Cedar, Crawford, Daviess, DeKalb, Dunklin, Gentry, Harrison, Knox, Laclede, Marion, Mercer, Mississippi, Montgomery, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Phelps, Pulaski, Ripley, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Warren and Worth.

Additionally, the designation names the following as contiguous disaster counties: Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barton, Buchanan, Butler, Callaway, Camden, Carter, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Grundy, Holt, Iron, Lafayette, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Maries, Miller, Monroe, Oregon, Osage, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Scott, St. Charles, St. Clair, Stoddard, Texas, Vernon, Washington, Webster and Wright.

Local farmers who think they may qualify for assistance may contact the Vernon County FSA office at (417) 667-8137 or the Missouri State FSA office at (573) 876-0980.