HUTCHINSON, Kan., Sept. 12, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today designated counties in Kansas, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas and Virginia as primary agricultural disaster areas, making certain farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers in the counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).

"I'm pleased that USDA can offer assistance to farmers and ranchers who have struggled with severe drought and weather conditions," said Johanns. "These agriculture disaster designations will enable eligible producers to apply for low-interest emergency loans from USDA to help cover their losses."

KANSAS

In Kansas, the following counties were designated as primary disaster areas on Aug. 25, 2005, due to losses caused by severe storms including hail, high winds, lightening, excessive rain, flash flooding and flooding that occurred from June 3, 2005, to June 16, 2005.

Counties eligible because they are contiguous to those listed above include:

CALIFORNIA

In California, Sutter County was designated as a primary disaster area on Aug. 25, 2005, due to losses caused by unseasonable rain that occurred from March 8, 2005, to March 19, 2005.

Counties eligible because they are contiguous to those listed above include:

MINNESOTA

In Minnesota, the following counties were designated as primary disaster areas on Aug. 25, 2005, due to losses caused by severe storms including excessive rainfall, hail and high winds that occurred May 7, 2005, and continuing.

Counties eligible because they are contiguous to those listed above include:

OREGON

In Oregon, Polk and Yamhill Counties were designated as primary disaster areas on Aug. 31, 2005, due to losses caused by heavy winds, rains and cool temperatures that occurred from March 27, 2005, through April 30, 2005.

Also eligible because they are contiguous include:

TEXAS

In Texas, Wilbarger County was designated as a primary disaster area on Aug. 31, 2005, due to losses caused by drought, high winds and excessive temperatures that occurred from March 1, 2005, through July 5, 2005.

Also eligible because they are contiguous include:

VIRGINIA

In Virginia, Fauquier County was designated as a primary disaster area on Aug. 31, 2005, due to losses caused by drought and high temperatures that occurred from April 1, 2005, through June 30, 2005.

Also eligible because they are contiguous include:

The counties listed above were designated agricultural disaster areas, making all qualified farm operators eligible for emergency loans, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency 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 USDA 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.