U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack issuing a disaster declaration that includes Mercer County. The announcement was made Monday and involves tornados and high winds that occurred March 31 through April 5. Henry and Rock Island counties are also included in the designation along with contiguous counties Bureau, Knox, Stark, Warren, Whiteside, and Henderson.
A Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency to provide emergency loans to producers recovering from natural disasters. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. Those eligible should contact their local USDA Service Center to ask questions or file a Notice of Loss.