KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — After a historically bad planting season left farmers vulnerable, they are now seeing help from a federal agency.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting federal assistance for Michigan farmers under the Federal Crop Insurance Program earlier this year.
After months of going through the approval process, The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent a letter on Oct. 31 to the governor announcing 43 Michigan Counties as primary natural disaster areas, and 31 additional counties as contiguous disaster areas.
In Southwest Michigan, this includes Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph counties as primary disaster zones. Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties are classified as contigous disaster areas.
The new designations under USDA guidlines allow farmer to access certain assistance from the agency, including crop insurance programs and FSA emergency loans.
Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of a disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans.
Those seeking to utilize assistance are encouraged to reach out to their local USDA Farm Service Agency Office. More information can be found at FSA.USDA.gov
