Iowa counties get disaster declaration for spring freeze

Farmers in some Iowa counties whose crops were affected by a cold snap in April following a warm March may get some help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Sen. Tom Harkin says USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued disaster declarations to assist farmers in nine counties. The Iowa Democrat says farmers can apply for lost income, low-interest loans and other assistance through the USDA's Farm Service Agency.

Temperatures dropped below freezing in April, damaging early blooms on fruit trees and other early plantings. The freeze came after a March that was the warmest on record for the central U.S.

The disaster declaration is for Audubon, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson and Lee. Assistance also is available for neighboring counties.