Loans available to cover ag losses

Loans are available to those who experienced damage in last month’s severe storms.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Randolph County has been declared a natural disaster area, making it and adjacent counties Jay, Delaware, Henry, Wayne and Darke County, Ohio, eligible for physical loss loans.

Those who experienced damage because of the tornado that ravaged Winchester and Selma, high winds, hail or excessive rain on March 14 are eligible for the loans through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. They are targeted at agriculture producers who experienced several physical losses, such as buildings and livestock.

The EF3 tornado — winds ranged from 136 to 165 miles per hour — stretched as wide as 700 yards and damaged or destroyed more than 130 structures while injuring about three dozen in Winchester. It was estimated to have damaged 50% of the structures in Selma.

The loans can be used to help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed property. Examples include farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit- and nut-bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay. 

For more information, contact a local Farm Service Agency office. 

Details are also available online at disaster.fsa.usda.gov. 

The deadline to apply for loans is Nov. 29.