Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that Mahnomen County has been designated as a primary agricultural disaster area due to excessive rainfall and freezing temperatures, and in accordance with the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Becker, Clearwater, Norman, and Polk counties have been designated as contiguous agricultural disaster counties by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack. The designation makes farm operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for Federal Service Agency assistance. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program from the federal Farm Service Agency (FSA).

The Governor requested the designation on January 29, 2009, citing excessive rainfall that occurred in August, September, October and November as well as freezing temperatures that occurred during the month of November, 2008 that made the harvesting of sugar beets difficult.

“Farmers in these counties were challenged by wet fields at harvest time and crop damage caused by cold temperatures,” Governor Pawlenty said. “This agricultural disaster designation will help farm operators who suffered losses this fall.”

The Loss Assessment Report submitted by Mahnomen County and approved by the FSA showed that farms in the county experienced extensive damage to the sugar beet crop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture determined there were sufficient production losses to warrant a disaster declaration. Becker, Clearwater, Norman, and Polk counties were included in the disaster designation because they are adjacent to Mahnomen County.

Farmers located in the designated counties should contact their local FSA office for more information about the Emergency Loan Program administered by FSA. Emergency loan funds may be used to restore or replace essential property, pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year, pay essential family living expenses, reorganize the farming operation and refinance certain debts.