SALT LAKE CITY \u2014 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared thirteen counties in Utah to be “Natural Disaster Areas”, opening the way for relief to farmers affected by record droughts.<\/p>\n
The primary counties eligeble are Beaver, Carbon, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Juab, Millard, San Juan, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah and Wayne Counties. Contiguous counties also eligible include Box Elder, Daggett, Davis, Iron, Kane, Piute, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Summit, Utah, Wasatch and Weber Counties. Counties in neighboring states Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico were also included.<\/p>\n
Producers in the designated areas will have access to emergency loans which can be used for essential items and services such as equipment or livestock, reorganization, or to refinance certain debts. The FSA would review the loans based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment capacity.<\/p>\n
Many in central Utah were expecting such a declaration as Governor Cox would not rule out a drought declaration<\/a> if Utah’s water woes intensified.<\/p>\n Drought relief offered as Utah farmers brace for one of the worst years on record<\/p>\n Drought relief offered as Utah farmers brace for one of the worst years on record<\/p>\n