USDA Providing Flood Relief Programs for Farmers in Central New York

This summer has been one full of heavy rainfall and heavy flooding. Now, farmers may have some relief from the damages caused by flood waters.

The USDA has announced an opportunity for farmers and ranchers to take advantage of benefits being offered to get back on the road to recovery.

According to a release from the USDA, Farm Service Agency Executive Director mark Dennis says, "These significant rain and flood events in NY have left extensive damage in their wake. As such, many farmers and ranchers are experiencing crop loss and forage loss, displaced and deceased livestock and property damage."

The relief is not a hand-out. The programs come in the form of low-interest loan programs. Below is a list of the different types of loans farmers and ranchers can apply for.

• Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance
• Livestock Indemnity Program
• Tree Assistance Program
• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
• Emergency Loan
• Program
• Emergency Conservation Program
• Hay Net

Each of these loans are available for specific circumstances. For full descriptions and explanations of the loans you can visit www.fsa.usda.gov. For additional information from your local FSA county office you can go to http://offices.usda.gov.