This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a disaster designation for several Middle Tennessee counties in recognition of losses incurred by farmers due to the excessive rainfall in 2009. These declarations will allow farmers to apply for federal assistance and loans to help recover from losses related to heavy rainfall and flooding.
“This disaster designation will offer a boost to farmers whose crop yields took a hit from the heavy rainfall of the past year,” Gordon said. “Federal assistance will help many affected farmers begin to rebuild and prepare for the start of the next season.”
The USDA listed Putnam County as primary disaster area. It also designated several other counties as contiguous disaster counties, including DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall and Overton. Farm operators in affected counties will be eligible to apply for assistance from the Farm Service Agency, including emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program.
“Middle Tennessee depends on its strong farming community,” Gordon said. “This assistance will help not only farmers and their families, but also the local county economies.”
Farmers in DeKalb County are encouraged to contact the county’s Farm Service Agency office in Smithville for more information about the assistance they might be eligible for. The office’s phone number is (615) 597-8225.
