The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority Board determined that an emergency exists in parts of Minnesota due to severe weather in May, which makes zero-interest loans available for Minnesota farmers whose operations may be suffering from damage caused by storms.
The resolution declares an emergency for the following counties: Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Brown, Carlton, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Grant, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac Qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Meeker, Morrison, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Renville, Rock, Roseau, St. Louis, Sherburne, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine and adjacent counties.
The Disaster Recovery Loan Program can be used to help cover lost revenue or expenses not covered by insurance. The funds can be used to help clean up, repair or replace farm structures and replace livestock.
The declaration applies to physical property damage and/or death of livestock taking place due to heavy rains and high winds in May.
Eligible farmers must have received at least 50% of their annual gross income from farming for the past three years and must work through their bank to secure the loans from RFA. Interest rates on the RFA portion of the loan are currently set at 0.
The Minnesota Legislature this spring appropriated $2.5 million in additional funds to replenish the revolving loan account that funds the Disaster Recover Loan Program, which has recently been used for highly pathogenic avian influenza poultry losses, drought and COVID-19 expenses.
The MDA offers more information on the Disaster Recovery Loan.
Also, the University of Minnesota Extension offers a list of online resources that may be of interest to farmers who are dealing with the aftermath of severe weather:
- Inspecting Grain Bins After a Windstorm
- Dealing with damaged ag buildings
- Inspecting Farm Buildings for Wind Damage: Safety Checks After A Storm
- Tree care after the storm
