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“Farmers in  66 Counties, who  have suffered crop or livestock losses due to  the ongoing drought   since January 1, 2012 may now apply for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans  at a 2.25%   interest rate ,”  Adrian J. Pol ansky, State Executive Director   said today.    Polansky added   “This   rate was previously at 3.75% and had remain ed unchanged since 1993.” 
 
These counties became  eligible under a more flexible rule announced by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on July 11, 2012.  Regulations had not been revised since 1988.  The new final rule, effective July 12
th allows the following 66 primary  counties in Kansas to be eligible for low interest rate emergency loans who suffered a drought intensity value of at least D2 (Drought -Severe) for eight or more consecutive weeks or D3 (Drought -Extreme) or high at  any time during the growing season according to the U. S. Drought Monitor http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/.  
 
Allen, Anderson, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cheyenne, Clark, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Crawford, Decatur, Edwards, Elk, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Greenwood, Hamilton, Ha rper, Harvey, Haskell, Hodgeman , Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Labette, Lane, Linn, Logan, Lyon, McPherson, Meade, Montgomery, Morton, Neosho, Ness, Norton, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Rawlins, Reno, Rice, Rooks, Scott, Sedgwick, Seward, S heridan, Sherman, Stafford, Stanton,
Stevens, Sumner, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, Wichita, Wilson and Woodson. 
 
The following contiguous c ounties in Kansas also became eligible under existing legislation which provides that farmers in counties bordering on those which have been designated for disaster assistance:  Chase, Cherokee, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth, Franklin, Marion, Miami, Morris, Osage, Osborne, Rush, Russell, Saline, Smith, Wabaunsee.
 
Applications for assistance will be accepted by FSA until March 12, 2013 . “Loans covering physical and/or production losses may be made at a 2.25   percent interest rate , and are scheduled for repayment as rapidly as feasible, consistent with the applicant’s reasonable ability to pay,” said  Polansky.

USDA 
Kansas Farm Service Agency
3600 Anderson Avenue               Ph: 785-539 -3531 
Manhattan, KS 66503                 Fax:785-537-9659 
Shelly Wolf, Communications Coordinator 
shelly.wolf@ks.usda.gov
Phone: 785.564.4765  
 
 
Polansky stated that “FSA’s Farm Loan Programs staff is committed to new and existing customers, FSA customer goals and ou r rural communities.  FSA’s service extends beyond the typical loan, offering FSA customers ongoing consultation, advice and creative ways to make a  farm business thrive.  At the Farm Service Agency, we want to be your lender of first opportunity to ove rcome these adverse weather conditions and rebuild your operation to get back on track.  FSA’s loan staff can refer customers to other public and commercial financing sources that can serve as a blend with FSA’s farm loan programs. ”   
 
FSA loans covering physical losses may be used to replace installations, equipment, livestock, or buildings (including homes), lost through this disaster. 
 
FSA loans covering production losses may be used to buy feed, seed, fertilizer, livestock, or to make payments on real e state and chattel debts.  “Funds can also be used for other essential operating and living expenses,”  Polansky  said.
 
To be eligible for an emergency disaster loan s, an applicant must be operating a family size farm or ranch, must be unable to get credit e lsewhere, and must have suffered a qualifying physical and/or production loss from the disaster.
 
Farmers,  who suffered at least a 30 percent reduction to at least one cropping enterprise, may have a qualifying production loss.  Emergency disaster  production loss loans cover 100 percent of qualifying losses. 
 
Farmers and ranchers that think they may eligible should contact the FSA County Office –   Farm Loan Programs  in their respective counties.   USDA Service Center Locations are available on the web at www.fsa.usda.gov/ks
 
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.