USDA: Cocke County among counties eligible for emergency loans

Cocke, Hamblen, Hancock and Hawkins counties have been declared contiguous disaster counties due to drought using the Secretarial Disaster Designation process. Grainger and Jefferson were declared primary disaster counties due to drought using the Secretarial Disaster Designation process. Under this designation, persons with operations in any primary or contiguous county are eligible to apply for low interest emergency loans.

Severe weather events create significant challenges and often result in catastrophic loss for agricultural producers. Despite every attempt to mitigate risk, your operation may suffer losses. USDA offers disaster assistance when facing inclement weather. Emergency loans help you recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding and other natural disasters or quarantine.

Those wishing to apply have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. Up to 100% of actual production or physical losses, to a maximum amount of $500,000 can be borrowed.

Applications for assistance in the disaster-stricken counties will be accepted by the Farm Service Agency through Nov. 25.

For more information about emergency loans, contact Farm Loan Manager, Greg Brooks, at the Hawkins/Hancock County USDA Service Center located at 1401 E. Main Street; Rogersville, TN 37857, or by phone at (423) 272-0217 or visit fsa.usda.gov.