Farmers eligible for emergency loans

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Aug. 24 approved Gov. Matt Blunt’s request to declare Missouri counties disaster areas so farmers can receive much-needed assistance.

All but two of Missouri’s 114 counties were declared disaster areas, including Greene, Christian, Webster and Taney counties.

The USDA declaration makes farmers eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency.

“It’s reassuring to know the Bush administration values the contributions Missouri’s farm families make to both our state and national economies and has taken decisive action to make this financial assistance available in a time of great need,” Blunt said in a news release.

To apply for an emergency loan, farmers can contact Springfield’s FSA office at (417) 831-5246 or visit the agency’s Web site.

The summer’s two-month drought conditions are the worst Missouri has experienced since 1980. Agricultural experts expect the state’s two biggest crops, corn and soybeans, to be down about a third from last year.