News

Indiana seeks disaster declaration

Indiana Governor Mike Pence is requesting a secretarial disaster declaration for counties with crop loss from this year’s excessive rainfall.

In joint letter to Secretary Vilsack, the Governor, Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and Indiana FSA state director Julia Wickard say the losses are ongoing.

FSA’s Julia Wickard tells Brownfield 53 of Indiana’s 92 counties have been impacted.  “We had 50 counties actually meet that 30 percent threshold,” she says.  “And then we had some reports from counties from boots on the ground surveys county offices did in conjunction with the county emergency board that we also requested three additional counties.”

Wickard explains what would be available to producers if a disaster declaration is issued.  “Producers would be eligible for low-interest emergency loans for that commodity that was impacted,” she says.  “That is what we at the Farm Service Agency will be able to offer for producers later on this growing season.”

She says they hope to have a decision from Washington, DC within the next week.

Here is the list of Counties.