Gov. Heineman Announces Nine Counties Approved for Disaster Assistance

(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman was notified today that U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has designated nine Nebraska counties as agricultural disaster areas.

The governor sent a disaster request last month to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to the effects the ongoing drought and a late freeze in the Panhandle region, along with heavy rains in southwest Nebraska, have had on agricultural producers.

Banner, Box Butte, Dawes, Kimball, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties received disaster designations primarily due to the ongoing drought. Hitchcock and Hayes Counties received designated due to agricultural losses resulting from flooding, hail and wind storms earlier this year.

“We were fortunate to get some much-needed moisture in the southwest part of our state this year, but the reality is that many producers received too much rain, too quickly to help their crops,” Gov. Heineman said. “At the other end of the spectrum are the challenges resident of the Panhandle face as a result of another year of drought. While conditions are much improved in many parts of our state this year, I know that producers in the Panhandle continue to face very difficult conditions. This disaster declaration will help those who’ve been severely impacted by natural disasters this year, regardless of the challenge they face.”

The disaster designation certifies that counties have suffered at least a 30 percent loss in at least one crop area and provides affected producers with access to low-interest loans, tax-deferment options on livestock sales and other programs that help mitigate the impact of natural disasters. Qualified producers in neighboring counties are also eligible to receive emergency assistance from USDA.

More information on drought programs is available online at http://www.droughtcentral.org.