County farmers can apply for disaster loans

Whitman County farmers are eligible for federal disaster payments and low-interest emergency loans because of excessive rains and flooding in Idaho.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack declared Monday 12 Idaho counties as primary disaster areas. Farmers in counties contiguous to primary disaster areas, like Whitman County, are eligible to request and direct payments under the USDA’s Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payment program, or SURE.

Loans are available to farmers in stricken counties or in adjacent counties. Producers must show documentation of at least 10 percent losses or prevented plantings....