The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Winter storms in western Washington counties exceeded typical crop losses that normally occur due to adverse weather, this year.

The severe weather caused significant physical damage to farm structures, equipment, orchard trees, berry plants, etc., according to Mark S. Turner, Farm Service Agency Loan Manager for Western Washington.

As a result, FSA Administrator Teresa Lasseter determined that the federal agency will make emergency loans available to farmers in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific and Thurston counties and the surrounding counties of Cowlitz, Mason, Pierce, Skamania and Wahkiakum.

"These loans differ from our typical emergency loans in that they are for repair or replacement of severe physical losses only," said Turner. "Physical losses include damage to perennial crops, such as tree damage in an orchard." Family farmers who suffered property damage due to winter storms which occurred between December 14, 2006 and January 15, 2007, may qualify for the emergency loans.

The emergency loans have 3.75 percent interest and payment terms up to 40 years with real estate security. FSA is accepting loan applications in county offices through September 30, 2007.

"The federal government does not intend to compete with private business, so applicants must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere to finance their needs at reasonable rates and terms," said Turner.

Applicants must be United States citizens, or aliens legally admitted for permanent residence, must be established farmers and must have suffered an agricultural loss in a designated or a contiguous county. An applicant's farm must be family-sized. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs available in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

Interested farmers may contact the Twin Harbors / Lewis County FSA office at 360-748-0083, Ext 2 in Chehalis for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for Emergency Loans and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda. gov/fsa.asp.