Drought makes Kern a designated natural disaster area
| Tuesday, Sep 22 2009 03:39 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Sep 22 2009 03:42 PM
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Kern and 20 other counties natural disaster areas because of the ongoing drought, making growers in the region eligible for new low-interest emergency loans.
Administered by USDA's Farm Service Agency, the loans are designed for farmers who've been unable to secure financing from other sources due to bad credit, inadequate collateral and other challenges.
Growers in another 29 counties contiguous to the primary disaster area also are eligible for benefits.
"These conditions caused severe damage to the area and serious harm to farms in California, and we want to help," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement released Tuesday. "This action will provide help to hundreds of farmers who suffered significant production losses to rangeland and pasture and forage crops."
An application deadline hasn't been set for this newest loan program, which follows two other emergency declarations that make Kern eligible for aid.
One program covers damages and losses caused by low temperatures (primarily in Santa Barbara County, but Kern is eligible because it's contiguous), and another one covers damages and losses caused by a freeze followed by excessive heat (Tulare County but Kern is contiguous).
Applications for both of those programs will be accepted through March 22.
For more information, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=fmlp&topic=efl or call (661) 336-0967.
