In mid-February, USDA's Farm Service Agency announced that physical loss loans were to be available for four counties in Oregon, four counties in Idaho and one county in Nevada. The massive winter storm that hit that area Dec. 15, 2016, is the cause of the damage, and the loans are to help those producers recover.

The request for the support came from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Danial LoFaro, acting FSA state executive director. The Administrator's Physical Loss Notification has been issued by FSA for Malheur County as the primary damaged area.

Three Oregon counties are contiguous to this designated disaster area, making these producers also potentially eligible for programs based on this designation. The contiguous counties are Baker, Grant and Harney.

Producers in Canyon, Owyhee, Payette and Washington counties in Idaho and Humboldt County in Nevada are also eligible because they are contiguous counties.

Producers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans for physical losses.

In the media statement announced the declaration, Chris Beyerhelm, FSA acting administrator, commented: "Damage sustained in the severe winter storm has resulted in significant loss for many farmers and ranchers in the impacted areas. Disaster assistance programs offered by FSA, including emergency physical loss loans, offer much-needed financial support for producers in the recovery process."

The emergency loans may be made available to any applicant with a qualifying loss in the counties named above. Approval is limited to applicants whose agriculture operations suffered severe physical losses only.

According to USDA, physical loss loans may be made to eligible farmers and ranchers to repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agriculture operation, including stored crops and livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include: essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit- and nut-bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.

Farmers and ranchers in the declaration areas should contact their local FSA office for more information about their eligibility for a loan. More FSA disaster assistance program information is available at bit.ly/2kS8M6B.

Source: USDA FSA