Iowa Governor Culver Announces USDA Disaster Declaration for 22 Iowa Counties

August 31, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced this afternoon that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared 22 Iowa counties as disaster areas. On August 12, Governor Culver wrote Secretary Vilsack requesting a Secretarial Disaster Designation following damage to plants and significant production losses due to severe storms between May 15 and July 31, 2009.

“I want to thank Secretary Vilsack and USDA for issuing these declarations,” said Governor Culver. “Thanks to this action, Iowa’s farmers and the entire agriculture community now have access to much needed disaster assistance following this summer’s severe weather. As Governor, I will continue to work with our federal partners to ensure that Iowa farmers have the tools and resources they need to return their lives to normal.”

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The declarations were made after assessments on crop and agriculture losses were done throughout the state. Declarations are still pending for several Iowa counties not covered by today’s announcement, but may be added at a later date.

The Secretarial Designation will expand eligibility for individuals in the affected and contiguous counties for additional USDA assistance, including resources available through the SURE permanent disaster program, created in the 2008 Farm Bill. Iowans are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Administration office for further information.

The Secretarial Designation applies to the following 22 counties:
Allamakee Clarke Fayette Jefferson Van Buren
Benton Clay Howard Keokuk Wapello
Bremer Clayton Iowa Lucas Wayne
Butler Decatur Jackson Mahaska Winneshiek
Chickasaw Delaware

In addition, the Secretarial Designation applies to 35 counties contiguous to the above list:
Appanoose Davis Hardin Madison Pocahontas
Black Hawk Dickinson Henry Marion Poweshiek
Buchanan Dubuque Jasper Mitchell Ringgold
Buena Vista Emmet Johnson Monroe Tama
Cerro Gordo Floyd Jones O'Brien Union
Cherokee Franklin Lee Osceola Warren
Clinton Grundy Linn Palo Alto Washington

Source: Iowa Governor