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USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Agricultural Producers in Iowa Impacted by Heavy Rain and Flooding

Agricultural operations in Iowa have been significantly impacted by recent heavy rain and flooding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events. Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.  

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Low-interest loans for farm property damages available

May 21, 2024, through May 25, 2024

The USDA made Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency physical loss loans available in 16 counties due to physical damage and losses caused by severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, derecho, straight-line winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. Those counties are: 

Adair, Adams, Fayette, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Kossuth, Madison, Montgomery, Page, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Story, Tama, Warren

In addition, 41 counties in Iowa are named as contiguous disaster counties where eligible family farmers may qualify for FSA emergency physical loss loan assistance. Those counties are: 

Allamakee, Audubon, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cass, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clayton, Dallas, Delaware, Emmet, Franklin, Fremont, Grundy, Guthrie, Harrison, Humboldt, Iowa, Jasper, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Ringgold, Shelby, Taylor, Union, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Worth, Wright


April 26, 2024, through April 27, 2024

The USDA made Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency physical loss loans available in eight counties due to physical damage and losses caused by thunderstorms and tornadoes. Those counties are:

Clarke, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Union

In addition, 21 counties in Iowa are named as contiguous disaster counties where eligible family farmers may qualify for FSA emergency physical loss loan assistance. Those counties are:

Adair, Adams, Audubon, Boone, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Dallas, Decatur, Fremont, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Story, Taylor, Warren, Wayne

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USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Iowa Disaster Areas

June 16, 2024 Flooding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Iowa residents recovering from the impact of flooding beginning June 16, 2024, could be eligible for a helping hand from the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that approximately 4,000 households that may not normally be eligible under regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules may qualify for D-SNAP – if they meet certain criteria, including the disaster income limits and have qualifying disaster-related expenses. More D-SNAP information.

Note: The current D-SNAP application period is only available to Iowans affected by flooding beginning June 16, 2024. Applications for assistance related to the severe storms/tornadoes of April and May are no longer available.  

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Loan options and application available at farmers.gov

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Rural Development rebuilding programs to Iowans

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s disaster assistance fact sheet for Iowa is a one-stop-shop of Rural Development programs and contact information that can be used to help people and businesses in rural Iowa rebuild and recover from severe weather and natural disasters.
  • A Disaster and Resiliency Resource Guide outlines programs and services that can help rural residents, businesses and communities hit by disasters and support long-term planning and recovery efforts.
  • Additional Rural Development resources
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