SENATORS SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE OXFORD COUNTY FARMERS ELIGIBLE FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE

U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a request to declare an agricultural disaster in Oxford County. Maine Governor John Baldacci requested the disaster designation to help farmers recover from losses caused by excessive rain, flooding, and a tornado that occurred on August 21, 2009.

This disaster designation makes farm operators in Oxford County, as well as the contiguous counties of Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin and York as well as Carroll and Coos counties in New Hampshire, eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE). Emergency loans are available to producers in these counties immediately. The FSA is currently in the process of developing software for the SURE program that will be available soon.

The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down in Oxford County during a severe thunderstorm on August 21. Thousands of trees were uprooted and numerous buildings were damaged or destroyed by high winds.

"This disaster declaration means necessary assistance will immediately be made available to farmers and others in Maine's agricultural industry who suffered losses during a terrible storm in August," said Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement. "This funding can be used to help cover production and physical losses. For more information on how to seek this assistance, farmers should contact their local Farm Service Agency."

The Oxford County FSA can be reached at 207-743-5789 ext. 2; Cumberland/York County FSA can be reached at 207-883-0159 ext. 2; and the Androscoggin FSA can be reached at 207-753-9400.

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