| DETROIT - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman has named
37 Michigan counties as eligible for emergency farm loans because of
losses from heavy rain, flash flooding and hail this spring.
Primary disaster areas include Tuscola and Isabella counties. Adjoining
counties that qualify include Saginaw, Midland, Gladwin and Gratiot.
"Farmers in Michigan are experiencing tough times this year due to
severe storms and too much rain," Glickman said. "USDA emergency
low-interest loans may help distressed producers survive a tough
season."
Twelve more counties were named primary disaster areas: Allegan,
Berrien, Cass, Huron, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Macomb, Oakland, St.
Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne.
Farmers in 19 other adjoining counties also are eligible: Barry, Bay,
Calhoun, Clare, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Kent,
Livingston, Mecosta, Monroe, Montcalm, Osceola, Ottawa, Sanilac, St.
Joseph and Van Buren.
Mark Seamon, agricultural agent for the Michigan State University
extension office for Saginaw County, said heavy rains struck the west side
of the county in the spring, damaging corn and sugar beet crops.
"There was some significant loss for some farmers, although the
rain was spotty," Seamon said. "While some farmers received 10
inches of rain, others nearby got only an inch."
August hail in some areas west of Reese along M-81 "stripped
leaves on the corn and sugar beets and damaged the navy beans and
soybeans," he said. "The pods which didn't get knocked off had a
lot of discolored beans, causing quality problems."
Yet, Seamon said, corn yields are better than average because of
rainfall during the "grain fill" period, where the kernels are
filling with starches and nutrients.
"We've also had ideal pollination conditions, with the cooler
temperatures and adequate moisture," Seamon said. |