USDA DESIGNATES COUNTIES IN ARKANSAS, IDAHO, NEW YORK, OREGON AND VIRGINIA AS AGRICULTURE DISASTER AREAS Media Contact: Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178

NEWS Farm Service Agency Public Affairs Staff 1400 Independence Ave SW Stop 0506, Room 3624-South Washington, D.C. 20250-0506 Release No. 1413.04 Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178 USDA DESIGNATES COUNTIES IN ARKANSAS, IDAHO, NEW YORK, OREGON AND VIRGINIA AS AGRICULTURE DISASTER AREAS Decision Allows Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for USDA Assistance WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2004 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated counties in Arkansas, Idaho, New York, Oregon and Virginia as primary agricultural disaster areas. Arkansas Randolph County in Arkansas is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by hail that occurred on Aug. 3, 2003. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Clay, Greene, Lawrence and Sharp. Idaho Latah County in Idaho is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred on from April 1 through Sept. 30, 2003. Also eligible because they are contiguous are the counties of Benewah, Clearwater, Nez Perce and Shoshone. New York Ulster County in New York is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages caused by rain and cool temperatures from April 1, 2003, and continuing. For rain from April 1, 2003, and continuing, the following counties are also designated as primary disaster areas: Cayuga Greene Schuyler Columbia Jefferson Onondaga Dutchess Lewis Oswego Madison St. Lawrence Tompkins Herkimer County in New York is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages caused by rain from April 15, 2003, through June 18, 2003. Orange County in New York is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages caused by rain from April 15, 2003, and continuing. Seneca County in New York is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages caused by rain from April 21, 2003, and continuing. Niagara, Rensselaer and Wayne Counties are designated as primary disaster areas due to rain from May 1, 2003, and continuing. Saratoga County in New York is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages caused by rain from May 1, 2003, through June 14, 2003. Allegany County in New York is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages caused by rain and cool temperatures from May 15 and continuing. Suffolk County in New York is designated as a primary disaster area due to damages caused by rain from May 21, 2003, and continuing. Contiguous New York Counties Eligible as contiguous counties for rain, flash flooding and cool temperatures from April 1, 2003, and continuing are: Columbia Dutchess Orange Delaware Greene Sullivan Eligible as contiguous counties for rain from April 1, 2003, and continuing are: Albany Franklin Otsego Tioga Chenango Hamilton Rensselaer Ulster Chemung Herkimer Seneca Wayne Cortland Oneida Steuben Yates Eligible as contiguous counties for rain from April 15, 2003, and continuing are: Putnam Rockland Sullivan Eligible as contiguous counties for rain from April 15, 2003, through June 18, 2003, are: Fulton Hamilton Montgomery Eligible as contiguous counties for rain from April 21, 2003, and continuing are: Ontario Wayne Yates Eligible as contiguous counties for rain from May 1, 2003, and continuing are: Genesee Ontario Saratoga Washington Erie Monroe Orleans Eligible as contiguous counties for rain and cool temperatures from May 1, 2003, through June 14, 2003, are: Fulton Montgomery Schenectady Washington Hamilton Rensselaer Warren Eligible as contiguous counties for rain and cool temperatures from May 15, 2003, and continuing are: Cattaraugus Livingston Steuben Wyoming Eligible as a contiguous county for rain from May 21, 2003, and continuing is Nassau County. Oregon Union and Wheeler Counties in Oregon are designated as primary disaster areas for ongoing drought in response to a letter request dated Oct. 17, 2003. Also eligible are the contiguous counties of Crook, Jefferson and Umatilla. Virginia Franklin, Northampton and Roanoke Counties in Virginia are designated as primary disaster areas for rain that occurred from Jan. 1, 2003, and continuing. Also eligible for the same disaster are the following contiguous counties: Accomack, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Roanoke City and Salem City. Patrick County in Virginia is designated as a primary disaster area due to winds caused by Hurricane Isabel that occurred on Sept. 18 and 19, 2003. Also eligible are the contiguous counties of Carroll, Floyd, Franklin and Henry. These counties were all designated on Jan. 9, 2004, making all qualified farm operators eligible for low-interest emergency (EM) loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for the loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs available, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity. USDA has also made other programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Emergency Conservation Program, Federal Crop Insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local FSA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov. # NOTE: Farm Service Agency (FSA) news releases and media advisories are available on the Web at FSA(s home page: http://www.fsa.usda.gov.