USDA declares area counties as natural disaster areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared 28 Ohio counties as natural disaster areas due to drought, including four in the local area. Because of the declaration, farmers in those counties — Hancock and all its surrounding counties — can seek emergency loans through the USDA's Farm Service Agency. "Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts," according to a news release from the USDA. "The (Farm Service Agency) will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability." The 28 counties included in the declaration are: Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Huron, Lucas, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Williams, Wyandot, Ashland, Crawford, Darke, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan, Lorain, Marion, Putnam, Richland, Shelby and Wood. The application deadline is Aug. 31 and people can learn more by visiting farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator.