USDA has announced 12 Montana counties have received a secretarial natural disaster designation for losses caused by a combination of drought, excessive heat, hail, severe storms, high winds, wildfires and insects that occurred during 2008. Those counties are Broadwater, Fallon, Richland, Custer, Golden, Valley, Roosevelt, Daniels, McCone, Sheri-dan, Dawson, Prairie and Wibaux.
In addition, the following counties have been named as contiguous counties Carter, Lewis and Clark, Stillwater, Fergus, Meagher, Sweet Grass, Gallatin, Musselshell, Valley, Garfield, Powder River, Wheatland, Jefferson, Rosebud and Yellowstone.
This designation makes farm operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for assistance from FSA including emergency loans and the new Supplemen-tal Revenue Assistance Program, which was approved as part of the new farm bill.
The MGGA Web site has additional information on the SURE program including a calcula-tor that can be used to estimate potential payments.
Information: Contact your local FSA office for further information.
