USDA storm loans offered in 37 counties

Emergency loans are available to farmers in 37 Arkansas counties for physical losses caused by floods, hail, high winds, lightning and tornadoes since April 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday.

The loans are for eligible farmers and ranchers to repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property, including livestock losses, the USDA said. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit- and nut-bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.

Farmers may contact local offices of the Farm Service Agency, a division of the USDA.

The physical loss notification was issued for producers in Arkansas, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Cross, Drew, Faulkner, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Newton, Perry, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff and Yell counties.

Farmers in another 21 Arkansas counties contiguous to the designated disaster area also are eligible.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture last week estimated that floods in May alone caused some $175 million in crop losses, especially in rice fields in northeast Arkansas.