USDA Designates Two Counties in New York as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Vermont

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Clinton and Franklin counties in New York as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a drought that occurred from May 24, 2016, and continues.

Farmers in Essex, Hamilton and St. Lawrence counties in New York also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their county is contiguous. In addition, farmers in Grand Isle County in Vermont also qualify for natural disaster assistance since they are contiguous with Clinton County, NY.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Nov. 28, 2016, 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.

Other FSA programs that can provide assistance, but do not require a disaster declaration, include the Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program; and the Tree Assistance Program.

Farmers in Franklin County are encouraged to contact the Franklin County FSA office at 151 Finney Boulevard in Malone or calling 518-483-2850, option 2 for more information. Clinton & Essex County farmers can contact the Clinton-Essex FSA office by calling 518-561-4616, option 2 or visiting the office at 6064 Route 22, Plattsburgh. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.