Bartholomew farmers eligible for disaster relief

Bartholomew is among the Indiana counties approved for a federal disaster declaration for significant crop damage and losses from flooding and excessive rain.

Brown and Jennings counties also are on the disaster declaration list, which will qualify farmers for low-interest emergency loans for those who had losses.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the declaration for 53 of Indiana’s 92 counties on Wednesday, Gov. Mike Pence’s office announced.

The declaration also applies to counties located next to the 53 named in the disaster declaration, the announcement said.

Emergency loans may be used to replace or restore property, pay all or part of production costs, pay family living costs, reorganize a farming operation or to refinance certain debts. The August interest rate on the loans is 3.625 percent. Producers may borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses to a maximum of $500,000.

Farmers interested in applying for loans should contact the local Farm Service Agency for application details.

Information: Bartholomew County Farm Service Agency, 1040 Second St., 812-378-1280.