Casey: USDA Announces PA Farmers in 57 Counties Are Eligible for Disaster Funds From 2011 Weather

In 2011, PA Was Hit Hard By Storms Including Irene and Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), today, announced that farmers in 57 Pennsylvania counties are eligible for disaster funds due to storms and adverse weather that occurred in 2011. The funds come from the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE). Farmers who experienced at least a 10% loss last year due to a natural disaster are eligible. In 2011, Pennsylvania was among the hardest hit states by storms including Irene and Lee.

“Pennsylvania was hit hard by storms in 2011, and this disaster aid will help farmers who are still trying to get back on their feet,” Senator Casey said. “Irene, Lee and other bad weather did unspeakable damage to communities and the state’s economy. These funds are one step toward helping keep a key component of Pennsylvania’s economy strong.”

To be eligible for SURE, a farm must have:

• At least a 10-percent production loss on a crop of economic significance;

• A policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for all economically significant crops;

• Been physically located in a county that was declared a primary disaster county or contiguous county by the Secretary of Agriculture under a Secretarial Disaster Designation. Without a Secretarial Disaster Designation, individual producers may be eligible if the actual production on the farm is less than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm due to a natural disaster. 

Farmers and ranchers interested in signing up must do so through their local FSA county offices before the June 7, 2013 deadline.

A county-by-county list of areas eligible for aid is below:

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