On December 16 Governor Steve Bullock announced that Lake and Hill Counties were designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as primary natural disaster areas due to extreme weather and drought conditions. Because contiguous counties to a declared natural disaster county also are affected, Blaine County ranchers and farmers may be eligible for help for lost production.

Earlier in the month there was another declaration of a physical disaster that affected Blaine County. This declaration applies only to physical damage to buildings and other structures that were affected during the July 4-5 hail storm of last summer. A physical declaration does not apply to lost crop production.

Dick Nicholson and Miranda Skoyen, with the Chinook’s USDA Farm Service Center, said, “The designations are very specific and related to certain events. Producers should come in and talk to us if they think they might be eligible for help through the USDA.”

There is a time limit as to when producers need to make an application for help. Skoyen explained, “The declaration regarding damage to hail was made December 8. Producers have an eight month window, after the declaration, to make their application for help. The drought designation began April 1 and is still continuing so that window for application is larger.”

Because of Hill County’s drought designation contiguous counties’ producers may be eligible for help with crop losses. Blaine, Liberty and Chouteau County producers may be eligible for help. Producers in Blaine, Hill, Phillips, Fergus, Liberty and Chouteau Counties may be eligible under the hail disaster designation since they are contiguous to Blaine County.

Producers with questions about how the two disaster designations may affect their operations should call or visit the Farm Service Center for details about whether they qualify and how to begin the application process. Contact the Service Center at 357-2320. Contact persons at the center are Dick Nicholson, Miranda Skoyen or Kari Sullivan.