Natural Disaster Declared In 40 Ohio Counties By USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture has designated 40 Ohio counties disaster zones after flooding, rain and other inclement weather this year. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the designation this month, saying the inclement weather had caused significant crop loss.

"This has been a very tough year for farmers,” Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said. “We appreciate the Secretary’s actions in reviewing the information about production losses in these counties and making these natural disaster designations.”

After initially being denied relief from USDA earlier this year, following requests for aid after the polar vortex, Ohio state officials decided to apply again for relief in June. DeWine's office noted that heavy rain throughout late spring and early summer damaged crop production.

Perdue said his department was able to finally complete a crop-loss assessment on July 1, 2019. At that point, he decided to issue a disaster declaration.

“Inclement weather conditions have caused farmers across our state to make tough economic decisions that will have a long-term impact on the agricultural industry,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda. “Secretary Perdue’s assistance is greatly appreciated.”

Farmers in affected counties will have eight months to apply for emergency Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans. Each loan application will be considered individually and will be judged on the amount of crop loss and the ability of the farmer to pay back the loan.

Farmers can contact their local FSA office for more information and to apply for a loan.

The following Ohio counties received the disaster designation:

• Allen
• Athens
• Auglaize
• Coshocton
• Crawford
• Defiance
• Delaware
• Erie
• Fairfield
• Franklin
• Hancock
• Hardin
• Henry
• Hocking
• Huron
• Knox
• Licking
• Logan
• Lucas
• Marion
• Meigs
• Mercer
• Monroe
• Morgan
• Muskingum
• Noble
• Ottawa
• Paulding
• Perry
• Pickaway
• Putnam
• Ross
• Sandusky
• Seneca
• Shelby
• Van Wert
• Vinton
• Washington
• Wood
• Wyandot