Gov. Blagojevich's request for agricultural disaster declaration approved         

Declaration will assist farmers in 81 Illinois counties

[June 08, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced Thursday that federal disaster assistance is available to help farmers recover from an April freeze that wiped out much of their crops, especially in southern Illinois.

The United States Department of Agriculture has granted the governor's request to designate 55 Illinois counties as natural disaster areas. The designation qualifies farmers in those counties and 26 contiguous counties who sustained production losses between April 3 and April 11 for USDA assistance, including low-interest emergency loans.

"Losses of this magnitude certainly could cause financial hardship, especially for small operations," Blagojevich said. "The loans that this declaration triggers can help them recover. They can be used not only to pay production costs, but also to refinance existing debt and cover essential family living expenses."

Temperatures in early April dropped to the low 20s and high teens across the state. While not unprecedented, the cold caused heavy damage because it followed an extremely warm March that accelerated crop development, leaving early budding fruit trees vulnerable to a prolonged freeze. The average March temperature was 6.5 degrees above normal, making the month the sixth-warmest March on record since 1895.

Illinois' $13 million peach crop was especially hard-hit. Reports indicate it may be a total loss. Winter wheat also sustained significant damage that could cost farmers more than $30 million. According to the latest USDA crop statistics, 160,000 planted acres of Illinois wheat were not harvested, or 17 percent of the entire crop. Most was destroyed because of freeze damage and replanted with corn or soybeans.

The 55 counties declared as primary disaster areas are:

Adams Alexander Bond Calhoun Champaign Christian Clay Clinton Crawford Cumberland Edwards Fayette Franklin Fulton Gallatin Greene Hamilton Hancock Hardin Jackson Jefferson Jersey Johnson Kankakee Knox Lawrence Macon Macoupin

Madison Marion Massac McDonough Menard Monroe Montgomery Morgan Perry Pike Pope Pulaski Randolph Richland Saline Sangamon Schuyler Scott Shelby St. Clair Union Vermilion Wabash Washington Wayne White Williamson

The 26 contiguous counties approved for disaster assistance are:

Brown Cass Clark Coles DeWitt Douglas Edgar Effingham Ford Grundy Henderson Henry Iroquois

Jasper Livingston Logan Mason McLean Mercer Moultrie Peoria Piatt Stark Tazewell Warren Will

Farmers and fruit growers who believe they may qualify for disaster assistance should contact their county Farm Service Agency office. Staff in county Farm Service Agency offices can verify whether producers have crops that are eligible for emergency funds. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and applicant's repayment ability.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]