Contact: Barbara Riley
Thursday, August 24, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu (R-NH) and Congressmen Charles Bass and Jeb Bradley (R-NH) announced today (8/24) that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated the entire State of New Hampshire as a primary natural disaster area as a result of flooding that occurred this past spring. Under the designation, farm operators in all ten New Hampshire counties will be eligible to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

“Farmers across New Hampshire were impacted by heavy rain and flooding in the state this past May, contributing to losses in hay and other crops,” said Gregg, Sununu, Bass and Bradley. “The Agriculture Secretary’s primary natural disaster area declaration for farmers in all ten counties will help to ensure that these agricultural producers are able to fully recover from the devastating flooding.”

FSA will consider the merits of qualifying applications by assessing the extent of losses, available security and repayment ability. For additional information, contact the local FSA office or the lending team headquarters in Concord at 603-223-6003.