USDA designation favors farmers

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 41 Ohio counties — including Trumbull — as primary agricultural natural-disaster areas, making certain farmers and other agricultural producers in the counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

The counties were designated as primary natural-disaster areas because of the effects of varying periods of excessive rain, flooding, flash flooding, high winds, hail, tornadoes, drought, freeze and frost that occurred April 1-3 this year.

In addition to Trumbull, other area counties identified as primary areas are Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Lorain, Ottawa and Medina.

Mahoning County is eligible because it is contiguous to the primary area of concern.

Farmers in eligible counties have 61/2 months to apply for loans to help cover part of their losses. Interested farmers should contact their local FSA county office.