Disaster Assistance Available For Farmers
Release Date: May 21, 2003
Release Number: 1463-28
» More Information on Missouri Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
Springfield, MO -- According to federal disaster officials, assistance is available for eligible Missouri farmers who suffered losses during the recent tornadoes, severe storms and flooding.
"We know farmers were hard hit by this disaster," said Mike Karl, federal coordinating officer for the Missouri recovery effort. "But we can't help them unless they call and register with FEMA for disaster assistance."
To apply for federal and state disaster assistance, Missouri farmers should call the toll-free application number: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech and hearing impaired.
Karl said all Missourians, including farmers and ranchers, in disaster-declared counties are eligible for assistance from the Individuals and Households Program, which provides grants and alternate rental housing for renters and homeowners whose primary residences were damaged or destroyed in the disaster.
Farmers and ranchers who suffered disaster-related losses may also be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Applications are available at local unemployment offices.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has various programs that may be available to agricultural producers who suffered damage as a result of the storms, tornadoes, and flooding that began May 4, 2003.
USDA Farm Services Agency offers:
- Emergency Loans to help family-sized farm operations cover eligible
losses to real estate, livestock and machinery. Production losses may
also be eligible.
- Emergency Conservation Program for direct technical and financial assistance to agricultural land users, including debris removal, reconstruction of fences, and other activities taken in response to natural disasters.
USDA Rural Development
- Individual Programs include direct and guaranteed loans to build a
new home, purchase an existing house or make repairs. Grants are available
to very low-income persons over the age of 62 for home repairs. Business
loan guarantees are available for new or existing businesses.
- Community Programs include loans and grants to towns and not-for-profit groups for water systems, sewer systems, community facilities, and the development of small and emerging business enterprises.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Emergency Watershed Program provides direct technical and financial assistance to reduce hazards to life and property due to natural disasters. A 75% cost share may be available for such activities as removal of log jams, repair of levees, removal of sediment from channels, and other practices that benefit more than one landowner.
For more information about these and other programs, farmers and ranchers should contact their local USDA offices. More information about these programs are available on the USDA websites:
Last Modified: Friday, 23-May-2003 14:07:46