WASHINGTON — Senator Chuck Grassley said today that 25 counties in Iowa have received a disaster designation from Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack due to the severe storms, hail, and flooding that occurred between August 1 and August 9, 2009. Grassley previously urged Secretary Vilsack to honor Governor Chet Culver’s August 20th request to declare a Secretarial Disaster Designation for eight Iowa counties. The Secretary previously declared 57 Iowa counties disaster areas following August 11 letters from Grassley and Culver.
This designation makes farmers eligible to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE). The Farm Service Agency will consider each application on its own merit by taking into account the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. Local Farm Service Agency offices can provide affected farmers with further information.
“As I traveled across Iowa in August, I witnessed firsthand the devastating destruction caused by severe storms and especially hail in north central and northwest Iowa,” Grassley said. “This swift and appropriate designation comes as welcome news to all the farmers whose crop was severely damaged or destroyed.”
The following counties were declared primary natural disaster areas: Calhoun, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Ida, Sac, Webster and Woodbury.
The following counties were declared contiguous disaster counties: Black Hawk, Boone, Buena Vista, Butler, Carroll, Cherokee, Crawford, Franklin, Greene, Humboldt, Marshall, Monona, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Story, Tama and Wright.
For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Grassley Asks Vilsack to Grant Request for Disaster Declaration to Iowa
WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack asking him to grant Governor Chet Culver’s August 20th request to declare a Secretarial Disaster Designation for eight Iowa counties as a result of severe storms that damaged crops and resulted in production losses. The counties affected include Calhoun, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Ida, Sac, Webster and Woodbury.
“Severe storms have caused an enormous amount of damage throughout a large section of Iowa,” Grassley said. “I’ve seen this damage firsthand as I’ve traveled Iowa during my Ambassadors Tour. I hope Secretary Vilsack acts on Iowa’s request as soon as possible.”
A copy of the text of Grassley’s letter can be found below or by clicking here. A copy of Culver’s letter can be found by clicking here.
August 20, 2009
The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20250
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
As you know, the State of Iowa has suffered from severe storms again this summer which has damaged crops and resulted in production losses. While I am encouraged that many producers in Iowa have purchased crop insurance for their own risk management, disaster declarations from your office are still needed.
I write in support of Governor Chet Culver’s August 20, 2009 request for Secretarial disaster declarations for the following counties: Calhoun, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Ida, Sac, Webster and Woodbury. Producers need to know that when the Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance (SURE) becomes finalized later this year that they will be eligible to receive support.
Thank you for your timely consideration of Governor Culver’s request.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Grassley: 57 Iowa counties designated disaster areas by USDA
WASHINGTON — Senator Chuck Grassley said today that 57 counties in Iowa have received a disaster designation from Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack due to the severe storms, hail, and flooding that occurred between May 15 and July 31, 2009. Grassley previously urged Secretary Vilsack to honor Governor Chet Culver’s August 11th request to declare a Secretarial Disaster Designation for 23 Iowa counties, as well as an August 20th request for an additional eight counties. The second request has not yet been acted on by the Secretary.
This designation makes farmers eligible to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE). The Farm Service Agency will consider each application on its own merit by taking into account the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. Local Farm Service Agency offices can provide affected farmers with further information.
“This declaration will help Iowa farmers who suffered crop losses get back on their feet,” Grassley said. “Relief can’t come fast enough for Iowans whose crops have been taken down to the ground. I appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s quick action and look forward to his consideration of the remaining counties.”
The following counties were declared primary natural disaster areas: Allamakee, Benton, Bremer, Butler, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne and Winneshiek.
The following counties were declared contiguous disaster counties: Appanoose, Black Hawk, Buchannan, Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clinton, Davis, Dickinson, Dubuque, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Henry, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Lee, Linn, Madison, Marion, Mitchell, Monroe, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Tama, Union, Warren and Washington.