Thursday, October 12, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
USDA Approves Blunt’s Request for Disaster Assistance for Missouri Farmers
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved his request to declare Missouri counties as natural disaster areas in response to the prolonged drought that has resulted in agricultural losses.
The disaster declaration by the USDA will make farmers eligible for assistance in the forms of low interest emergency loans and cost sharing on water related activities. A primary county is one that has experienced a 30 percent crop loss. A contiguous county is one located next to a primary county.
Eighty-five counties have been designated as “primary” disaster counties:
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Andrew, Audrain, Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Christian, Clark, Clay, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, Dent, Douglas, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Greene, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Howard, Iron, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Madison, Maries, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Ozark, Pettis, Phelps, Pike, Platte, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Reynolds, Schuyler, Scotland, Shannon, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, Webster, Worth, Wright.
Twenty counties have been designated as “contiguous” disaster counties:
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Adair, Bollinger, Carter, Chariton, Clinton, De Kalb, Grundy, Holt, Howell, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Nodaway, Oregon, Perry, Saline, Shelby, St. Louis City, Taney, Wayne.
“Missouri’s prolonged drought has brought with it devastating losses for our state’s farm families,” Blunt said. “I want to thank the USDA for answering my call to provide needed assistance for Missouri’s farmers.”
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