Blount declared disaster area due to drought
From Staff ReportsOriginally published: October 31. 2008 8:15PM
Last modified: October 31. 2008 8:15PM
The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared Blount and 38 other Tennessee counties on Friday as disaster areas due to losses caused by drought this year.
Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer informed Gov. Phil Bredesen of the designation by letter.
Knox and Monroe counties were included among the counties listed as primary disaster areas.
In addition, 37 contiguous counties may also be eligible for disaster assistance, including Loudon and Sevier.
The designation makes farm operators in each of the 76 counties eligible to be considered for assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. That assistance includes FSA emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program.
Applications will be considered on merit by taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker issued a statement praising the action.
“With this declaration from the Secretary of Agriculture, Tennessee farmers should be able to get the help they need,” Alexander said.
Corker said he hopes farmers in Tennessee will receive appropriate relief for any drought-related losses.
“Extreme weather conditions have made it a particularly tough few years for our Tennessee farmers. Low rainfall levels have caused farmers to lose as much as 35-70 percent of their crops this year,” Corker stated.
The Monroe/Blount County Farm Service Agency is located at 616 Warren St., Madisonville, phone (423) 442-2202.
The Roane/Loudon office is at 424 N. Kentucky St., Kingston, phone (865) 376-2392.
Check the Web site and Saturday's Daily Times for further developments.
If you want even more of the best news and information source in Blount County, every word of The Daily Times print edition is available online. Get fully searchable access online and a downloadable PDF copy of the newspaper every day with your subscription. Prefer hard copy? Subscribe today for home delivery service. The Daily Times, your hometown newspaper of record for 125 years and counting.