USDA Expands Iowa Counties Eligible for Disaster Loans

A drought impacted ear of corn is seen in a field on the Tom Albaugh farm, Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, in Ankeny, Iowa. Albaugh expects to be harvesting by the middle of September, ahead of the usual end of September or early October schedule. The harvest is three to four weeks ahead of schedule in most of the corn belt because an unusually warm spring allowed farmers to plant earlier. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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By Liz Blood

Story Created: Sep 19, 2012 at 5:59 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 19, 2012 at 5:59 PM CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers in 22 additional Iowa counties now may qualify for low interest emergency loans from the federal government as a result of this summer's drought. With the latest designation announced Wednesday, farmers in all Iowa counties now could qualify for drought-related emergency assistance.

Six counties added by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as primary natural disaster areas include Clarke, Emmet, Madison, Taylor, Union, and Warren. In addition farmers in 16 contiguous counties may qualify for the loans and other assistance.

Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

The emergency loan interest rate had earlier been reduced to 2.25 percent from 3.75 percent by the Department of Agriculture.

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