Area farmers can get drought relief

By GINA KINSLOW
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW November 10, 2008 10:46 am

— Area farmers who suffered a loss of income due to the drought or hurricane damage can apply for assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“They have to show a loss of at least 30 percent whether that is in crops or livestock and it has to be directly related to the drought,” said Helena Pitcock, farm loan manager with the Farm Service Agency in Glasgow.
Farmers must bring their income tax returns from the past three years, plus their production records to the FSA office on YMCA Way.
Pitcock said FSA can lend them money to cover their total loss at an interest rate of 3.75 percent provided they do not qualify for any other loan program at any other lending agency.
Gov. Steve Beshear says farmers will also qualify for the loans if they suffered crop losses from high winds when the remnants of Hurricane Ike blew through the state in September.
Beshear said he is pleased the Department of Agriculture acknowledged the financial hardships Kentucky farmers are facing. The loans will be available to farmers in all 120 Kentucky counties.