The USDA has designated 10 Iowa counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought. Washington County, along with Appanoose, Davis, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, and Wapello Counties, were all listed as primary natural disaster areas. Iowa, Johnson, and Louisa Counties were all listed as contiguous counties.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought intensity value during the growing season.
A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the FSA, provided eligibility requirements are met. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans. Farmers in eligible counties must apply for emergency loans eight months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration. FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, considering the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability of the operator.
Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen talked with KCII about what this means for local farmers. “This (declaration) opens up some disaster programs for farmers that have been affected by the drought. This can range from crop insurance, assistance with livestock, and other programs that may be available. If farmers have any questions about what to do next, they can contact me, and I will get them in contact with the people that can help them.”
The Washington County, Emergency Management Office, is located at 2183 Lexington Boulevard in Washington at the Orchard Hill complex. Contact information for Marissa Reisen and the Washington County Emergency Management Office can be found at the bottom of the article.
Phone: (319) 653-3015