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Taft Seeks Federal Aid for Ohio Farmers
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Farmers in Mahoning and Columbiana counties could be eligible for federal assistance to help with damage suffered from storms this spring.Gov. Bob Taft has asked U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman to designate 52 Ohio counties as disaster areas due to agricultural losses caused by flooding and extreme weather since May. The designation, requested by Taft in a letter dated July 7, would make crop and livestock farmers in the 52 counties and contiguous counties eligible for disaster assistance programs. In the past, such assistance has come most often in the form of federal emergency low-interest loans."It is difficult for a farmer to see his crop washed away by floods only to replant the crop and see it washed away again without any hope for a profitable growing season," Taft said. "That's why I'm asking for much-needed federal assistance for Ohio farmers."According to official damage assessment reports, roughly half the affected counties -- including Mahoning and Columbiana -- suffered agricultural crop production and physical losses such as damaged farm machinery. The other half suffered crop production losses only.If the designation is made, affected farmers may qualify for federal emergency loans if they have suffered at least a 30% loss in crop production and meet other eligibility and loan requirements. In counties suffering physical losses, farmers would also have to prove disaster damages to real estate or moveable property essential to the farm's operation.Farmers are advised to consult with their local USDA Farm Service Agency to determine their eligibility."