I am pleased to learn of federal disaster assistance being made available to Illinois farmers who suffered crop losses due to excessive rain and flooding this year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted the Governor’s request to designate 58 Illinois counties as natural disaster areas. Farmers in these designated counties, as well as 30 adjacent counties will now qualify for USDA assistance, including low-interest emergency loans.

Illinois saw one of the heaviest rainfalls in State History, which has hurt crop production this growing season. I am grateful for the efforts taken by Governor Quinn and the USDA. These loans will aid in preparation and planting of new crops, as well as help farmers regain what they have lost.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Illinois Field Office, about 100,000 acres of corn that would have been harvested for grain or silage were abandoned due to extremely wet conditions that occurred between April and June. This means we have lost close to 18 million bushels of corn this season.

I want to encourage the counties eligible to take advantage of this relief, which includes: Adams, Alexander, Bond, Boone, Brown, Calhoun, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Johnson, Lake, Lawrence, Lee, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Massac, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, St. Clair, Stephenson, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne and Whiteside, as well as adjoining counties: Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Coles, Cook, DeKalb, DeWitt, Edgar, Franklin, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jo Daviess, Kane, Knox, La Salle, Macon, Mason, McLean, Moultrie, Peoria, Rock Island, Sangamon, Tazewell, Vermilion, Warren, White, Williamson, Winnebago.  

To find out if you qualify for these services please contact your local County Farm Service Agency Office or call the USDA Illinois State Farm Service Agency at 217-241-6600 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov for more information.