“Emergency loans for farmers, ranchers, and operators are available through the Forrest County office of the Farm Service Agency,” David A. Blakeney, FSA Farm Loan Manager, said today.

According to Blakeney, this authority is pursuant to acting administrator Beyerhelm’s declaration on Jan. 31, 2017, of a major disaster in Mississippi caused by excessive rain, flash flooding, high winds, hail, lightening, tornadoes, and straight-line winds that occurred on Jan. 2, 2016. Jefferson Davis County is contiguous to the primary natural disaster area. Therefore, it has been designated eligible for Federal Disaster assistance pursuant to Section 321 (a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.

Applications for assistance in the disaster-stricken county will be accepted by FSA through Sept. 30, 2017.

Farmers qualifying for emergency loans may borrow up to 100 percent of their actual physical loss or the amount needed to restore their operation to its pre-disaster condition, whichever is less. The new emergency loan and outstanding principal balance of any existing emergency loan owed by the applicant or any individual member of an entity cannot exceed $500,000.

FSA emergency loans cover losses from designated disasters and are made to qualified farmers who cannot obtain credit from other lenders in the local area.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).