June 21, 2006

Cherokee, Morton counties declared agricultural disaster areas

Governor Kathleen Sebelius has received word from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns that her request for two Kansas counties be declared agricultural disaster areas has been granted, and farmers will now become eligible for low-interest loans.

The declarations were granted for Cherokee and Morton counties for crop damage caused by drought, high winds, wildfires and above-normal temperatures.

“Farming plays a huge part in the Kansas economy, and farm families are hurting this year,” Sebelius said. “Weather damage to crops creates a real hardship for our farmers and the communities that rely on them, so this assistance is welcome news”

The disaster designation makes qualified farm operators in the designated counties, and counties contiguous to them, eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.

Counties contiguous to Cherokee and Morton are Crawford, Labette, Stanton and Stevens.