WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Menominee, Dickinson, Iron and Gogebic Counties as contiguous natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that began March 1 of this year.

“The USDA has recognized the critical impact this draught had on famers and agriculture in these four counties over the past six months,” Stupak said.  “The current economic climate makes it even more important that farmers receive the assistance they need because of this disaster designation.”

This designation makes farm operators in these four counties eligible to be considered for assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), including emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program.  Each loan application must meet eligibility requirements and will be considered individually taking into account the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.  Farmers in designated counties can get more information on how to apply for emergency assistance loans from local FSA offices.

The disaster designations were triggered by a request for a disaster designation by the state of Wisconsin.  Damage assessment reports showed farms in the 31 primary natural disaster counties sustained sufficient production losses due to long-term drought to result in a disaster designation.  Thirty-three bordering or contiguous counties, including Menominee, Dickinson, Iron and Gogebic, were also designated disaster areas.

The 31 Wisconsin counties recognized as primary disaster areas, and the contiguous counties in Michigan are as follows:

Primary Natural Disaster Area

Ashland County            Eau Claire County        Marinette County           Sawyer County

Barron County              Florence County          Oconto County              St. Croix County

Bayfield County            Forest County              Oneida County              Taylor County

Burnett County             Iron County                  Pepin County                Trempealeau County

Chippewa County         Kewaunee County       Polk County                  Vilas County

Door County                Langlade County          Portage County             Washburn County

Douglas County            Lincoln County             Price County                 Waupaca County

Dunn County                Manitowoc County       Rusk County               

Contiguous Natural Disaster Area in Michigan

Dickinson County         Gogebic County           Iron County                  Menominee County

# # #