Valley farmers affected by Dolly could receive disaster loan

Dec 28, 2008      Valley Morning Star

Edwina P. Garza

Dec. 27, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- SAN BENITO -- Farmers whose crop was destroyed by heavy rainfall throughout the week after Hurricane Dolly hit are eligible for Farm Service Agency disaster emergency loans, FSA officials said.

Rainfall from the July 23 hurricane was close to 10 inches in a number of areas, according to previous reports.

The loans are for eligible farmers in Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo and Starr counties who lost at least 30 percent of their crop production from rainfall from July 23 to July 30.

It's unclear how many acres across the Rio Grande Valley the hurricane may have affected. Local FSA officials were unavailable for comment on Friday.

In previous reports, estimated losses from the Category 2 hurricane ranged up to more than $20 million.

The Rio Grande Valley was declared eligible for the loans in late November, officials said.

FSA officials said crop insurance money would be taken into consideration when determining eligibility for loans.

The deadline to apply for the emergency loan is July 27, 2009. FSA Farm Loan Manager Arnulfo E. Lerma from the Edinburg FSA office recommends that applications be filed early to avoid delays.

"If the applications come in early, we can avoid backlogs and speed up the process," Lerma said in a news release.

FYI

For more information, call the local FSA offices. In Cameron County, call 956-399-1311; in Willacy County, call 956-689-2437; in Hidalgo County, call 956-381-0916; in Starr County, call 956-487-2511.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0091-30736371

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