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ST. PAUL — Damage from spring storms has a triggered a zero-interest loan program through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
The department’s Rural Finance Authority Board on Tuesday, May 31, determined that an emergency exists in parts of Minnesota because severe weather in May, making zero-interest loans available for farmers whose operations were hit by the storms.
The resolution declares an emergency for the following counties: Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Brown, Carlton, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Grant, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac Qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Meeker, Morrison, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Saint Louis, Sherburne, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine, and adjacent counties.
The Disaster Recovery Loan Program can be used to help cover lost revenue or expenses not covered by insurance. The funds can be used to help clean up, repair, or replace farm structures and replace livestock.
The declaration applies to physical property damage and/or death of livestock taking place due to heavy rains and high winds in May 2022.
A widespread derecho storm swept through Minnesota on May 12, with a collapsed grain bin killing one farmer in Kandiyohi County.
There was another round of storms Memorial Day weekend.
The storms include at least one confirmed tornado in Douglas and Todd counties.
Our survey teams are in Forada, MN assessing the confirmed tornado damage across parts of Douglas and Todd Counties. We have yet to assign an EF-scale rating to this damage, but it unfortunately is quite extensive. We will have more updates later today. pic.twitter.com/kwSjkbm5U4
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) May 31, 2022
For the disaster loans, farmers must have received at least 50% of their annual gross income from farming for the past three years. Farmers can work through their bank to secure the RFA loans.
The Minnesota Legislature this spring appropriated $2.5 million to account that funds the Disaster Recover Loan program, which has recently been used for highly pathogenic avian influenza poultry losses, drought, and COVID-19 expenses.
Jeff Beach / Agweek
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