JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt Tuesday announced that the U.S. Agriculture Acting Secretary Chuck Connor declared 22 Missouri counties as natural disaster areas for agricultural loss due to drought related damages. Eight additional counties were named as contiguous disaster counties and will also be eligible for disaster designation.

“Missouri farmers have faced production losses that have had a severe impact on their crop production and harvest,” Gov. Blunt said. “We took action by requesting this assistance and I commend Acting Secretary Connor for quickly approving this disaster declaration which will allow Missouri farm families to receive this assistance.”

Counties approved for declaration of natural disaster areas are: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Scott, Stoddard, Washington and Wayne. The contiguous counties include Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Franklin, Ozark, Shannon, St. Louis and Texas. The disaster declaration in both primary and contiguous counties makes farm operators eligible for low-interest loans from Missouri Farm Service Agencies (FSA) if eligibility requirements are met.

Local FSA offices will be able to provide Missouri farmers with additional information on the low-interest loans.

Livestock producers suffering from diminishing forage are encouraged to visit the Missouri Hay Directory at www.mda.mo.gov or call the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s hay hotline at (800) 877-4429.