(weather.com)
(FDACS) — Following Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s call for a Secretarial disaster designation for Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Sally, on Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Okaloosa and Walton counties as primary and Bay, Holmes, Santa Rosa, and Washington counties as secondary disaster areas. Producers in these counties are now eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) disaster loans in addition to producers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who were previously eligible. Commissioner Fried is encouraging all eligible producers in need of financial assistance to apply immediately.
“With so many Panhandle farmers reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sally, many facing up to 100 percent agricultural losses, this Secretarial disaster designation makes available much-needed help for producers to begin to recover,” stated Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Thank you to the USDA for responding to our calls for assistance and supporting Florida’s panhandle growers in a time of need. I’m encouraging all eligible producers who are in need of financial assistance to apply immediately.”
Farmers and ranchers should contact their local Farm Service Agency county office to learn which documents should be provided to help the local office expedite assistance, such as farm records, receipts, and pictures of damages or losses. In addition to these low-interest emergency loans, other existing disaster programs may be available for producers regardless of disaster declarations in their counties, including the Livestock Indemnity Program, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), and Tree Assistance Program. Florida agricultural producers are also advised to visit the USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool to determine their program eligibility.
For more information on all USDA disaster assistance programs, visit farmers.gov/recover, or contact your local USDA Service Center, which can be found at farmers.gov/service-center-locator. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, please contact your crop insurance agent.
Background: In September, Commissioner Fried sent letters to Governor Ron DeSantis, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Florida State Executive Director, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and other Florida Congressional delegation members representing districts impacted by Hurricane Sally calling for a USDA Secretarial disaster declaration to help producers recover from storm-related losses.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services