U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has designated 16 North Dakota counties as natural disaster areas due to extreme weather last year ranging from drought to excessive moisture.
The announcement, combined with a disaster designation issued in November, means that all of North Dakota’s 53 counties are now disaster areas, meaning farmers and farm-related businesses statewide are eligible to apply for federal emergency loans, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says for farmers and ranchers, the loans can be used to replace needed equipment or livestock, reorganize a farming operation or refinance.
Last fall’s designation came after the wettest September on record for North Dakota, according to the National Weather Service. The wet weather and an historic early October snowstorm put a halt to harvest and led to flooding in some areas. President Donald Trump also issued a disaster declaration.
Perdue’s designation covers excessive snow, excessive moisture and flooding, but it also factors in high winds, hail, and drought. Many northern counties were extremely dry last summer.
Topics Agribusiness
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