Drought Affects Walla Walla and Columbia Counties A Secretarial Disaster Declaration has been issued due to drought in Walla Walla County This triggers the availability of FSA emergency loans. The loans are low interest, currently 3.125% percent, with payment terms of up to 40 years. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the designation to apply for loans to help cover part of your actual losses. 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, in addition to the Emergency Loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity. Columbia County is considered a contiguous county and therefore producers there are also eligible for Emergency Loans. Severe drought conditions in Walla Walla County for 8 consecutive weeks during their established livestock grazing period makes the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) available for producers in that county. The LFP provides financial assistance to eligible producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire. More information can be found here. FSA has additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Emergency Conservation Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact your county office for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online. FSA Seeks Nominees for County Committees The Farm Service Agency is seeking candidates for the upcoming farmer and rancher-elected county committee election. The Walla Walla and Columbia County FSA offices will accept nominations through August 1, 2014. FSA county committee members provide the local link between the needs of farmers and ranchers and the federal farm programs. Committee members make decisions which impact program payments. They bring local knowledge of farming practices, prices and conditions to program implementation. FSA encourages all interested agricultural producers, including women and minority growers, to seek nomination. Eligible candidates must participate or cooperate in any Farm Service Agency program and be of legal voting age. Even if you are not currently participating in FSA programs, you are considered eligible to vote under the cooperation criteria if you have farm records on file with FSA. Both County Committees draw their members from local administrative areas. Candidates must live in the local administrative area they will represent and must be eligible to vote in the county election. Members serve on staggered three-year terms so that one-third of the seats is up for re-election each year. This year's election takes place in LAA 1 in Walla Walla County and in LAA 2 of Columbia County. A map of LAAs open for election this year is posted at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/2014_wa_laa_map.pdf Elected county committee members receive an hourly wage for their attendance and representation at county committee meetings. FSA county committee elections will take place in the fall and newly elected committee members begin their terms January 1, 2015. FSA will send ballots to all eligible voters. Additional information and nomination forms may be requested from either the Walla Walla or Columbia County Farm Service Agency office. Nomination forms may also be obtained online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/wa. Questions?
Please contact Lee Ann Walters, Acting County Executive Director, at (509) 522-6347, lee.walters@wa.usda.gov or for Farm Loans, please contact Joyce Nevins-Ginsburg, Senior Farm Loan Officer, at (509) 545-8543, joyce.nevinsginsberg@wa.usda.gov. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment