Farmers are urged to get their applications in as soon as possible for loans to cover losses caused by flooding that started in May of this year. Continue reading
Calling All Farmers Interested in Getting Involved with the Community
If you know someone interested in serving on a local Indiana Farm Service Agency County Committee, now is the time to submit that person’s name as a nominee for the 2015 County Committee Elections. Act fast because you only have until the beginning of August to submit your nomination. Continue reading
Dry Spell to Negatively Impact Yields, Says FSA Director
It’s nearing harvest time, according to Noel Lawson, executive director for Starke County Farm Service Agency. He said while harvest efforts haven’t really kicked in high gear, there are some fields being harvested, but he doesn’t expect fields to be cut for at least another week due to a dry spell that has hit the area over the last several weeks.
Lawson said the dryness has been pushing crops to maturity quicker than expected, but the harvest work hasn’t really kicked in yet.
Stay Alert on the Roads During Harvest Time
No Adverse Effects on Crops From Rainfall in Kankakee Valley
He said the sandy soils in Starke County and the surrounding area have been soaking up the excess rains, making for significantly better conditions than last year when the county suffered from drought. While there are some wet pockets in a few fields that are drowning out a few acres, Lawson said overall the rain has been beneficial.
Farm Service Agency Offering Loan Program for Farmers
USDA Declares 52 Indiana Counties Disaster Areas
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has asked the United States Department of Agriculture to designate 52 counties disaster areas due to losses caused by drought conditions that occurred in 2010.
Upon reviewing the loss reports, the USDA has determined that there were sufficient production losses to warrant a Secretarial disaster designation. In our area, LaPorte County and Newton County fall within the primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that occurred from August 1st through December 31st, 2010. Starke County and Jasper County have been listed as contiguous disaster counties. A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for assistance from the Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers have eight months to apply for emergency loan assistance.
Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with further information.
