News Release: USDA Designates 11 Parishes in Louisiana as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Texas

 

Release No. 0119.16

 

Latawnya Dia

202-720-7962

Latawnya.Dia@wdc.usda.gov

 

 

USDA Designates 11 Parishes in Louisiana as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Texas

 

WASHINGTON, Sep. 22, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 11 parishes in Louisiana as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by due to losses caused by severe storms and flooding that occurred from Aug. 11, 2016, through Aug. 31, 2016. Those parishes are:

 

Acadia	Evangeline	Lafayette	St. Martin
Ascension	Iberia	St. James	Vermilion
Cameron	Jefferson Davis	St. Landry

 

“Our hearts go out to those Louisiana farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We’re also telling Louisiana producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.”

 

Farmers and ranchers in the following parishes in Louisiana also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those parishes are:

 

Allen	Calcasieu	Lafourche	Rapides
Assumption	East Baton Rouge	Livingston	St. John the Baptist
Avoyelles	Iberville	Pointe Coupee	St. Mary
Beauregard

 

Farmers and ranchers in Jefferson and Orange counties in Texas also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.

 

All parishes and counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Sep. 22, 2016, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible parishes and counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

 

Other FSA programs that can provide assistance, but do not require a disaster declaration, include the Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program; and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

 

FSA news releases are available on FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov via the “Newsroom” link.

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