Minnesota County Designated Primary Disaster Zone

Farmers in four southwestern Minnesota counties are eligible for federal help with crop damage caused by recent heavy rain and hail.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has designated Rock County a primary disaster zone. That’s where storms damaged about 100,000 acres of farmland. Under federal regulations, counties bordering the primary disaster zone also qualify, allowing farmers in Murray, Nobles and Pipestone counties to seek federal assistance.

Rock County Farm Service Agency executive director Fraser Norton says farmers can apply for up to $500,000 in low interest loans. Norton tells Minnesota Public Radio News that some parts of Rock county got more than 20 inches of rain during a three-week period.

Statewide, Gov. Mark Dayton has cited more than $55 million in public response costs and infrastructure damage when applying for federal disaster aid stemming from June’s widespread flooding.