Bevin requests emergency disaster declaration for Kentucky farmers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ)- Governor Matt Bevin has submitted an emergency disaster designation and declaration request in support of Kentucky’s farmers to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

The request follows months of heavy rains and severe weather in the Commonwealth, resulting in flooding and wind damage in many Kentucky counties. These weather events adversely impacted the yield and quality of crops for farmers across the state and resulted in damage to buildings, fences, equipment and farming infrastructure.

Kentucky farm families are a vital part of our individual communities and our states overall economy, said Gov. Bevin. We are grateful to Secretary Perdue and the USDA for considering this request to provide our hardworking farmers with much-needed assistance in the aftermath of an extraordinarily challenging weather year.

In the request to Secretary Perdue, Gov. Bevin urged that assistance be made available to Kentucky farmers to mitigate the significant harvest losses and discounted market prices resulting from poor weather conditions.

Farming is one of the few occupations where year after year you can do everything right, and Mother Nature can sweep it all away, said Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture appreciates this request for an emergency declaration and any support it may provide our hardworking farmers who produce food and fiber for the Commonwealth.

Farming is indeed a high-risk business. Kentucky has had an abnormally wet and windy September and fall, said Warren Beeler, executive director for the Governors Office of Agricultural Policy (GOAP). Due to the remnants of two hurricanes, we have blown down crops, fences taken out from flooding and damaged discounted grain at marketing time. Kentucky agriculture needs and is thankful for the Governor’s request for a disaster declaration.

USDA Secretarial disaster designations must be requested by the governor or the governors authorized representative. Once approved by the USDA, the designation will allow for the availability of low-interest loans to farmers in all primary and contiguous counties impacted by the disaster.

A copy of the official request submitted by Gov. Bevin is available here.

Additional information regarding USDA disaster assistance programs is available at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/.