| Western Michigan farmers, including those from Allegan and Ottawa
counties, hit by extreme weather last spring will be able to get emergency
loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman has named 27 counties eligible for
the low interest loans from the Farm Service Agency.
The designation comes as a result of damaging frosts and freezes,
excessive rains, flash flooding and hail that hit West Michigan in May of
this year.
Farmers in the eligible counties have eight months to apply for the
loans to cover part of their losses from the severe weather.
The eligible counties are Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun,
Cass, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lake, Lenawee,
Livingston, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola,
Ottawa, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wexford. |