Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that Wilkin, Clay, Grant, Otter Tail, and Traverse counties have been designated agricultural disaster areas by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer. The designation makes farm operators in each county eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the federal Farm Service Agency (FSA).

The Governor requested the designation on December 23, 2008, citing excessive rainfall that occurred in September, October and November that made the harvesting of sugar beets difficult. In addition, freezing temperatures that occurred on three consecutive days in November caused irreparable damage to the remaining crop.

“It’s hard enough to recover after one round of bad weather, but farmers in these counties were hit twice in short period of time,” Governor Pawlenty said. “This agricultural disaster designation will help farm operators who suffered losses this fall.”

The Loss Assessment Report submitted by Wilkin 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. Clay, Grant, Otter Tail, and Traverse counties were included in the disaster designation because they are adjacent to Wilkin County.

Farmers located in the designated counties should contact their local FSA office for more information about the low-interest 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.