Minnesota agricultural producers who lost property due to recent natural disasters may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) physical loss loans. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers these low-interest loans to agricultural producers in Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dodge, Freeborn, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Mahnomen, Martin, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Olmsted, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Sibley, Stearns, Wabasha, Watonwan, Winona and Yellow Medicine counties, the primary damaged area, who incurred losses caused by blizzard, excessive snow, excessive rain and high winds that occurred between January 28, through March 23. Approval is limited to applicants who suffered severe physical losses only, including the loss of buildings and livestock. Applications are due December 9.
“Minnesota’s hardworking ag producers feed our neighbors, the nation and the world,” said State Executive Director Joe Martin. “When they suffer losses because of extreme weather, helping them get back on their feet is important. We encourage those affected to reach out to their local USDA Service Center to apply for these emergency loans.”
Producers in the contiguous Minnesota counties of Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Carver, Clearwater, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Marshall, Morrison, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Pennington, Pipestone, Red Lake, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Waseca and Wright, along with Emmet, Howard, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago and Worth counties in Iowa, Grand Forks and Trail counties in North Dakota, Deuel and Grant counties in South Dakota, and Buffalo, La Crosse, Pepin and Trempealeau counties in Wisconsin, are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.
Physical loss loans can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.
For more information on FSA disaster assistance programs or to find your local USDA Service Center visit https://www.farmers.gov/recover.
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