North Dakota, Minnesota receive disaster relief

10/27/2011

Citing losses from the effects of snowstorms, frosts, freezes, flooding, hail and tornadoes, 41 North Dakota counties were recently deemed eligible for USDA natural disaster relief loans from the Department of Agriculture, the Republic reports.

The Grand Forks Herald notes that state farmers have eight months to apply for programs through the Farm Service Agency. Offerings include the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program, which assists with crop losses.

"North Dakota farmers and ranchers were hit hard by this year's severe weather," Representative Rick Berg, and Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven said in a joint statement, as quoted by the news source. "This declaration comes as welcome news and will allow impacted North Dakota producers to get the assistance they need to recover from this year's significant production and physical losses."

Minnesota farmers in 11 counties located within a "disaster-affected belt" in central and southern regions of the state were also deemed eligible for the USDA loans.

According to governor Mark Dayton, the state was hit with excessive rain and heat, high winds, tornadoes and an early fall frost.