OTTAWA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared Franklin, Miami, Osage and six other counties in Kansas as natural disaster areas because of losses caused by this summer’s drought, excessive heat and high winds. Farmers and ranchers in neighboring counties also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are next to the primary disaster area. Those counties include: Anderson, Linn, Douglas and Coffey counties. All qualified farm operators in the designated areas are eligible for low interest emergency loans from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Farmers and ranchers who are eligible have eight months to apply for loans to help cover part of their losses. FSA can explain eligibility requirements and other information regarding the loan programs. Additional information is also available on-line at
http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
Monday, Oct. 31, 2:30 p.m.
