Stay on top of important FSA news and information with the fsa.usda.gov RSS feed. We'll revise this feed when we add news and featured content on the fsa.usda.gov website. http://www.fsa.usda.gov/ en-us USDA Farm Service Agency https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=edn&newstype=ednewsrel&type=detail&item=ed_20151112_rel_0184.html ed_20151112_rel_0184 at www.fsa.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 43 municipalities in Puerto Rico as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by high winds from Tropical Storm Erika that occurred from Aug. 27-28, 2015. Those municipalities are:

Adjuntas	Coamo	Juncos	Salinas
Aguas Buenas	Comerio	Las Piedras	San Juan
Aibonito	Culebra	Loiza	San Lorenzo
Arroyo	Fajardo	Luquillo	Santa Isabel
Barranquitas	Guayama	Maunabo	Trujillo Alto
Caguas	Guayanilla	Naguabo	Utuado
Canovanas	Guaynabo	Orocovis	Vieques
Carolina	Gurabo	Patillas	Villalba
Cayey	Humacao	Peñuelas	Yabucoa
Ceiba	Jayuya	Ponce	Yauco
Cidra	Juana Diaz	Río Grande

“Our hearts go out to those Puerto Rico farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We’re also telling Puerto Rico producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.”

Farmers and ranchers in the following municipalities in Puerto Rico also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their municipalities are contiguous. Those municipalities are:

Arecibo	Corozal	Maricao
Bayamón	Guánica	Morovis
Cataño	Hatillo	Naranjito
Ciales	Lares	Sabana Grande

All municipalities listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Nov. 12, 2015, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible municipalities have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

Additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers include the Emergency Conservation Program, The Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

FSA news releases are available on FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov via the “Newsroom” link.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:25:05 CST https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=edn&newstype=ednewsrel&type=detail&item=ed_20151104_rel_0179.html ed_20151104_rel_0179 at www.fsa.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated eight counties in Connecticut as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from April 1, 2015, and continues. Those counties are:

Fairfield	Litchfield	New Haven	Tolland
Hartford	Middlesex	New London	Windham

“Our hearts go out to those Connecticut farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We’re also telling Connecticut producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.”

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Massachusetts
Berkshire, Hampden and Worcester

New York
Dutchess, Nassau, Putnam, Suffolk and Westchester

Rhode Island
Kent, Providence and Washington

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Nov. 4, 2015, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

Additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers include the Emergency Conservation Program, The Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

FSA news releases are available on FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov via the “Newsroom” link.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

]]> Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:04:38 CST https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=edn&newstype=ednewsrel&type=detail&item=ed_20151104_rel_0180.html ed_20151104_rel_0180 at www.fsa.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 11 counties in North Carolina as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred from Sept. 22, 2015, through Oct. 4, 2015. Those counties are:

Bertie	Gates	Pamlico
Bladen	Hertford	Union
Caswell	Hoke	Warren
Cumberland	Northampton

“Our hearts go out to those North Carolina farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We’re also telling North Carolina producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.”

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in North Carolina also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Alamance	Craven	Moore	Richmond
Anson	Franklin	Nash	Robeson
Beaufort	Halifax	Orange	Rockingham
Cabarrus	Harnett	Pasquotank	Sampson
Camden	Hyde	Pender	Scotland
Carteret	Martin	Perquimans	Stanly
Chowan	Mecklenburg	Person	Vance
Columbus

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in South Carolina and Virginia also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

South Carolina
Chesterfield and Lancaster

Virginia

Brunswick	Halifax	Pittsylvania	Danville
Greensville	Mecklenburg	Southampton	Suffolk

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Nov. 4, 2015, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

Additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers include the Emergency Conservation Program, The Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

FSA news releases are available on FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov via the “Newsroom” link.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

]]> Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:09:22 CST https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=edn&newstype=ednewsrel&type=detail&item=ed_20151104_rel_0181.html ed_20151104_rel_0181 at www.fsa.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated in multiple disaster designations 13 counties in New Jersey as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by abnormally dry drought conditions and excessive heat, followed by excessive rain, flash flooding, high winds, lightning, and back to excessive heat and drought that occurred in 2015.

“Our hearts go out to those New Jersey farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We’re also telling New Jersey producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.”

Designation 1: USDA has designated eight counties in New Jersey as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive heat and drought conditions that occurred from April 1, 2015, through Sept. 29, 2015. Those counties are:

Burlington	Hunterdon	Ocean	Sussex
Camden	Middlesex	Somerset	Union

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in New Jersey also qualify for disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Atlantic	Gloucester	Monmouth	Passaic
Essex	Mercer	Morris	Warren

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in New York and Pennsylvania also qualify for disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

New York
Orange and Richmond

Pennsylvania
Bucks, Monroe, Philadelphia and Pike

Designation 2: USDA has designated five counties in New Jersey as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain, flash flooding, high winds and lightning that occurred from May 28, 2015, through July 15, 2015. Those counties are Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Farmers and ranchers in Burlington, Camden and Ocean counties in New Jersey also qualify for disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Delaware and Pennsylvania also qualify for disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Delaware
Kent, New Castle and Sussex

Pennsylvania
Delaware and Philadelphia

Designation 3: USDA has designated five counties in New Jersey as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive heat and drought conditions that occurred from July 16, 2015, through Sept. 29, 2015. Those counties are Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Farmers and ranchers in Burlington, Camden and Ocean counties in New Jersey also qualify for disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Delaware and Pennsylvania also qualify for disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Delaware
Kent, New Castle and Sussex

Pennsylvania
Delaware and Philadelphia

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Nov. 4, 2015, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

Additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers include the Emergency Conservation Program, The Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

FSA news releases are available on FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov via the “Newsroom” link.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

]]> Thu, 05 Nov 2015 07:59:24 CST https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=edn&newstype=ednewsrel&type=detail&item=ed_20151028_rel_0172.html ed_20151028_rel_0172 at www.fsa.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 20 counties in Arkansas as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought. Those counties are:

Arkansas	Drew	Lincoln	Pike
Clark	Garland	Lonoke	Polk
Cleveland	Grant	Monroe	Prairie
Dallas	Hot Spring	Montgomery	Pulaski
Desha	Jefferson	Phillips	Saline

“Our hearts go out to those Arkansas farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We’re also telling Arkansas producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.”

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Arkansas also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Ashley	Hempstead	Ouachita	Sevier
Bradley	Howard	Perry	White
Calhoun	Lee	St. Francis	Woodruff
Chicot	Nevada	Scott	Yell
Faulkner

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Mississippi and Oklahoma also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

Mississippi
Bolivar, Coahoma and Tunica

Oklahoma
Le Flore and McCurtain

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Oct. 28, 2015, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

Additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers include the Emergency Conservation Program, The Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

FSA news releases are available on FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov via the “Newsroom” link.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2015 14:36:40 CDT