GLICKMAN DECLARES 5 NEVADA COUNTIES AS AGRICULTURAL DISASTER AREAS DUE TO
WILDLAND FIRES
                                            Release No. 0356.99
                                                               
                                                               
                                  Andrew Kauders (202) 720-4623
                                          andrew.kauders@usda.gov
                                  Matt Kilbourne (202) 720-5239
                                Matt_Kilbourne@wdc.fsa.usda.gov


GLICKMAN DECLARES 5 NEVADA COUNTIES AS AGRICULTURAL DISASTER AREAS DUE TO
WILDLAND FIRES
                                                     
                                                               
     WASHINGTON, September 3, 1999 -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
today declared 5 counties in Nevada as agricultural disaster areas.  The
declaration makes farmers and ranchers in these counties, and 4 contiguous
counties, eligible for emergency, low-interest loans because of losses caused
by wildland fires that began on August 5, 1999.  

     "Farmers and ranchers in the West are facing a very active and
destructive fire season.  Across the United States, a total of 4,393,402 acres
have burned in 1999, almost double the 10 year average," said Glickman.  "We
are continuing to commit all the resources necessary to battle these fires,
which are causing serious environmental and economic losses." 
     
     Secretary Glickman has just returned from a visit to the Willow Fire on
the San Bernardino National Forest, the country's largest fire.  Over 2,700
firefighters from USDA's Forest Service, and other federal, state and local
entities have now successfully contained 50 percent of the 61,770 acre fire.  

     In Nevada, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, and Pershing counties were
designated as primary disaster areas, while Churchill, Nye, Washoe, and White
Pine counties were named as contiguous counties, also making them eligible for
the emergency, low-interest loans.
     
     Farmers and ranchers have eight months to apply for emergency,
low-interest loans to help cover part of their actual losses.  To be eligible,
they must have suffered at least a 30 percent loss of normal production in a
single enterprise, be able to repay the loan and any other loans, be unable to
obtain credit elsewhere, and have adequate security.
                                                            
     USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) has a variety of programs available, in
addition to the Emergency Loan Program, to help eligible farmers and ranchers
recover from adversity.  Interested farmers may contact their local FSA
offices for further information on eligibility requirements and application
procedures.  Additional information is also available online at
www.fsa.usda.gov.


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