Oct. Freeze Brings Disaster Aid for 10 Mont. Counties

Farmers in 10 Montana counties could qualify for federal disaster aid, under a declaration announced by federal agriculture officials in response to a crop-killing deep freeze last October.

Yellowstone and Stillwater counties were named primary natural disaster areas because of widespread sugar beet losses during the freeze, which came before many farmers had harvested their crops.

Farmers in eight contiguous counties also qualify for assistance: Big Horn, Carbon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Park, Rosebud, Sweet Grass and Treasure.

The disaster designation makes farmers eligible for low interest emergency loans through the federal Farm Service Agency. Loan applications must be submitted by late October.