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(Valentine, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman has received word that U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has designated 49 Nebraska counties as disaster areas due to the ongoing drought. Secretary Johanns approved drought aid as requested by the Governor, and also designated an additional 10 counties as contiguous disaster areas.
“I am very pleased that Secretary Johanns has approved these disaster designations,” Gov. Heineman said. “Our farmers and ranchers are enduring difficult days and they have continued to face this drought head on. Given the intense heat forecasted in the days ahead, combined with the already dry conditions throughout the state, I will continue working with our congressional delegation to access any and all aid in order to help our producers work through the challenges they face.”
Primary drought disaster assistance will be available for the following 49 counties: Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Buffalo, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dundy, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Phelps, Red Willow, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Thomas, Valley, Webster, and Wheeler.
The disaster declaration certifies that these counties have suffered at least a 30 percent loss in one or more crop or livestock areas. A natural disaster designation provides affected producers in primary disaster areas with access to low-interest loans, tax-deferment flexibility and other programs to help mitigate the impact of the drought.
Due to proximity to drought-affected areas, producers in nearby counties will also have access to low-interest loans, provided they met eligibility requirements.
The 10 counties designated as contiguous disaster areas include: Adams, Antelope, Boone, Clay, Greeley, Hall, Knox, Merrick, Nance, and Nuckolls.
More information on drought programs is available online at http://www.droughtcentral.org.
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