Agricultural producers in Montana who lost property in recent natural disasters are eligible for physical loss loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers these loans for losses caused by extreme cold, blizzards, excessive snow, freeze and frost.
FSA is offering these low-interest emergency loans to producers with a qualifying loss in the counties named below. Approval is limited to applicants who suffered severe physical losses only, including the loss of buildings and livestock.
Extreme Cold:
An Administrator’s Physical Loss Notification was issued for the primary damaged area of Custer County, Montana due to extreme cold that occurred Feb. 1, 2018, through Feb. 28, 2018.
Additionally, producers in six contiguous Montana counties may be eligible for programs based on this designation. The contiguous counties are: Carter, Fallon, Garfield, Powder River, Prairie and Rosebud.
The deadline for producers in designated and contiguous counties to apply for loans for physical losses under this declaration is Jan. 22, 2019.
Blizzards, Excessive Snow, Freeze and Frost:
An Administrator’s Physical Loss Notification was issued for the primary damaged area of Glacier and Pondera counties in Montana, due to blizzards, excessive snow, freeze and frost that occurred Oct. 25, 2017, through March 31, 2018.
Additionally, producers in five contiguous Montana counties may be eligible for programs based on this designation. The contiguous counties are: Chouteau, Flathead, Liberty, Teton and Toole.
The deadline for producers in designated and contiguous counties to apply for loans for physical losses is Feb. 1, 2019.
About Physical Loss Loans:
Physical loss loans can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.
Please contact FSA for more information on loan eligibility and the application process. FSA office information is available at http://offices.usda.gov. Additional FSA disaster assistance program information is available at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
