Drought leads to disaster declaration in nearly half of Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Farmers across most of Missouri now are eligible for federal aid as a result of a natural disaster declaration by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Gov. Jay Nixon said Wednesday that the declaration means farmers can get emergency loans and other assistance from the USDA's Farm Service Agency.
 

List your upcoming event on the KSPR Community Calendar, click here.

The disaster declaration applies to 31 counties that suffered extreme or exceptional drought, or have been in a severe drought for more than eight weeks.  Farmers in an additional 32 neighboring counties also can receive aid.
----
 
The 31 counties under the primary disaster declaration are: Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Bates, Caldwell, Callaway, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Dunklin, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Lafayette, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Nodaway, Pettis, Pike, Ralls, Ray, Warren and Worth.
 
The 32 counties designated as contiguous disaster counties are: Adair, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Camden, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clay, Franklin, Gasconade, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Miller, New Madrid, Osage, Pemiscot, Platte, Randolph, St. Charles, St. Clair, Saline, Shelby, Stoddard, Sullivan and Vernon.