Joyce lauds federal disaster designations, aid for 24 Ohio counties

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) on Oct. 7 applauded federal disaster designations for 24 home-state counties following a formal request he made seeking support for Ohio farmers in his district and around the Buckeye State.

“I commend the USDA for recognizing how this year’s severe weather has crippled Ohio farmers and look forward to seeing this disaster designation help lift the economic strain off of them, their families and communities,” Rep. Joyce said on Monday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Oct. 4 announced a primary agricultural disaster designation for the two-dozen Ohio counties, including Ashtabula, Geauga, and Lake counties in Rep. Joyce’s district due to losses caused by excessive rain and flooding this year. The designations make farmers eligible for consideration of certain federal assistance from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

“This assistance includes FSA emergency loans,” USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue wrote in an Oct. 4 letter to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announcing the designations. “Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of a secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans.”

Rep. Joyce noted that agriculture is one of Ohio’s top industries, providing a large portion of the nation’s source of corn, wheat and soybeans.

“Simply put, Ohio’s agricultural industry is vitally important to both our nation’s food security and economic well-being,” he said. “Unfortunately, our farms have been devastated by historic rainfall, flooding and tornados.”