The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday declared 12 counties in northwest Ohio as disaster areas due to excessive rainfall in May and June that left farmers in the state and Midwest unable to plant their crops on time or at all.
The designation names Paulding, Wood, and Wyandot counties as the primary ones affected. Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Ottawa, Putnam, and Van Wert counties were named contiguous counties.
With the USDA’s declaration, farmers in those counties who were affected can apply for financial assistance that includes emergency low-interest loans, deferred loan payments, and supplementary assistance. More information about disaster relief programs is available at local Farm Services Agencyoffices.
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green), whose district includes most of the 12 counties, has been lobbying agriculture department officials since early June to make the disaster area declaration.
“Our farmers have been hit hard by this devastating crop season. Excessive rainfall has led to late or no planting, and it has had a ripple effect across all of agribusiness in the region,” Mr. Latta said in a statement. “It’s the worst I’ve seen. I’m grateful for Governor (Mike) DeWine and (USDA) Secretary (Sonny) Perdue’s responsiveness and action on behalf of our farmers, and am pleased that those impacted will soon see some relief.”