USDA Designates Some Louisiana Parishes as Natural Disaster Areas

December 16, 2019

Agriculture producers in some Louisiana parishes now may be eligible for assistance from the federal government due to losses from Hurricane Barry, the state’s agriculture commissioner reported.

Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides and St. Landry parishes as primary natural disaster areas. Producers who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Barry between July 12 and Aug. 16, 2019, may be eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.

Producers in the contiguous Louisiana parishes of Acadia, Allen, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, St. Martin and Vernon are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

The deadline to apply for these emergency loans is June 18, 2020.

FSA has a variety of additional programs to help farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster. FSA programs that do not require a disaster declaration include: Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program; Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Operating and Farm Ownership Loans; and the Tree Assistance Program.

Strain said producers may contact their local USDA service center for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at farmers.gov/recover.

Source: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

Topics Natural Disasters Louisiana Agribusiness

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