FSA Loans Available

USDA on July 6 made producers in most of Idaho eligible to apply for emergency loans due to drought. The agency has designated 20 Idaho counties as primary natural disaster areas because they have suffered growing-season drought classified as extreme or exceptional, or severe for at least eight consecutive weeks. USDA also made contiguous counties eligible — including 23 of Idaho’s remaining 24, three in Oregon, two each in Montana and Nevada, and one in Wyoming. - Capital Press (sub req'd).

USDA reports the “Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.”