posted
on Monday, November 18, 2019
in
Current News
By Michigan Farm News
In what arguably could be the best-kept secret in Michigan agriculture, USDA formally approved 43 Michigan counties as “primary” natural disaster areas, due to losses caused by excessive rain, flooding, flash flooding, and abnormally cold temperatures that occurred since March 1 and continued through fall harvest.
An additional 31 designated “contiguous” counties — those that border the 43 primary counties —also qualified for disaster designation, making a total of 74 counties in the state eligible for disaster assistance from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met.
According to a letter dated Oct. 31, 2019, from USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the disaster assistance will consist of FSA emergency loans.
“Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans,” Perdue said in the letter. “FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability of the operator.”
USDA reviewed the Loss Assessment Reports submitted Sept. 17 by Michigan’s FSA Executive Director originally requesting primary disaster designation for 62 Michigan counties.
According to Perdue’s letter, USDA was unable to make a complete and accurate determination of production losses for 17 counties at this time.
“Therefore, a decision to designate those counties as primary disaster areas will be deferred,” Perdue wrote, including Arenac, Barry, Bay, Branch, Clare, Gladwin, Ionia, Lake, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Tuscola, Van Buren, and Wexford Counties
Disaster Designations for Michigan
Michigan Primary Counties (43):
Alger
Dickinson
Iron
Mason
Roscommon
Antrim
Eaton
Kalkaska
Menominee
St. Clair
Benzie
Emmet
Lapeer
Monroe
St. Joseph
Berrien
Genesee
Leelanau
Muskegon
Sanilac
Cass
Grand Traverse
Lenawee
Oakland
Schoolcraft
Charlevoix
Gratiot
Livingston
Oceana
Shiawassee
Cheboygan
Hillsdale
Macomb
Otsego
Washtenaw
Clinton
Huron
Manistee
Presque Isle
Wayne
Delta
Ingham
Marquette
Michigan Contiguous Counties (31):
Alpena
Gogebic
Luce
Montmorency
Ottawa
Baraga
Houghton
Mackinac
Newaygo
Saginaw
Barry
Ionia
Midland
Ogemaw
Tuscola
Branch
Isabella
Missaukee
Ontonagon
Van Buren
Calhoun Clare Crawford Gladwin
Jackson Kalamazoo Kent
Lake
Montcalm
Oscoda
Wexford
