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Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would designate 85 counties in the state of Ohio as primary natural disaster areas due to the losses caused by the drought and other natural disasters that have occurred throughout the 2012 crop year. Eligible counties were separated into four disaster designations based on the natural disaster that occurred. Specifically, counties were separated into the following designations: the current drought period beginning on February 1, 2012; frosts and freezes that occurred March 1 through May 31, 2012; excessive rain and flooding that took place May 2 through May 4, 2012; and the hail that affected crops on July 1, 2012.

Congressman Latta (R – Bowling Green) applauded the designations by saying, “With one of the largest agricultural districts in the state, I had the opportunity to tour farms in northwest Ohio and witness first-hand how these natural disasters have affected the crops and the business decisions farmers are currently making for next year’s crops. Our farmers and ranchers are used to working in unpredictable and harsh conditions, but it is critical they have the risk management tools to mitigate the impacts of the harsh circumstances they are facing now due to the natural disasters.”

Under these designations, farm operators within the listed primary and contiguous counties are eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), including emergency loans.

Below are the 85 counties that have been designated by USDA:

Designation Number 1: Drought and excessive heat that occurred during the period of February 1, 2012 and continuing: 

Primary counties: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood and Wyandot.

Benefits are also available for the contiguous counties of Cuyahoga, Gallia, Lawrence, Meigs and Putnam.

Designation Number 2: Frost and freezes that occurred during the period of March 1, through May 31, 2012:

Primary counties: Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake

Benefits are also available for the contiguous counties of Cuyahoga, Portage, Summit and Trumbull.

Designation Number 3: Excessive rain, flooding, and flash flooding that occurred during the period of May 2, through May 4, 2012:

Primary counties: Gallia, Jackson and Meigs

Benefits are also available for the contiguous counties of Athens, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton.

Designation Number 4: Hail that occurred on July 1, 2012:

Primary county: Ottawa

Benefits are also available for the contiguous counties of Erie, Lucas, Sandusky and Wood.

In addition, the following Ohio counties have been declared contiguous counties under separate disaster designation from the state of Indiana:

Butler, Darke, Defiance, Hamilton, Mercer, Paulding, Preble, Van Wert and Williams

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