Culver seeks ag disaster declarations for eight more counties

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver is asking for eight additional Iowa counties to receive federal agricultural disaster declarations qualifying them for assistance after damaging storms, hail and flooding this month.

In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Culver said those counties suffered significant plant damage and production losses in the first nine days of August.

The new counties Culver is seeking assistance for include Calhoun, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Ida, Sac, Webster, and Woodbury counties.

“After assessing the damage from recent storms in north-central Iowa, we are expanding our request to cover eight additional counties,” Culver said in a statement. “As governor, I will continue to do whatever possible to help those affected recover from these storms.”

If the disaster declarations are granted, it will expand eligibility for additional assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for people in those counties and contiguous counties. More information is available through local farm service agencies.

Earlier this month Culver sought declarations for the following counties: Allamakee, Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne, Winneshiek.