State requests disaster declaration for 53 Indiana counties, including Putnam, due to crop damage caused by flooding

In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence requested a secretarial disaster declaration for 53 of Indiana's 92 counties -- including Putnam County -- due to crop damage and losses caused by flooding and excessive rain since May 1 of this year.

Clay, Montgomery and Hendricks counties are also included in the request.

"Recent and unprecedented heavy rainfall across our state has had a significant impact on the yield of Indiana crops and our Hoosier farmers," Gov. Pence said. "As promised, our administration has been closely monitoring this situation and, in coordination with the Indiana Farm Service Agency, has determined federal emergency loan assistance is both prudent and warranted. Hoosier farmers can be assured that we will continue to keep a close eye on the long-term effects of this year's heavy rains and, as needed, work to identify additional help for those in our state's agriculture industry."

In 50 counties, reported crop damage and losses have met or exceeded 30 percent of a crop, and three counties have experienced a significant number of damages and losses to multiple crops. Under a disaster designation, low-interest emergency loans will be made available to all producers suffering losses in that county, as well as in counties contiguous to a disaster-designated county.

Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, Indiana secretary of agriculture, and Julia A. Wickard, Indiana FSA state executive director, joined the governor in signing the letter.

"The record-setting rainfall this summer throughout much of Indiana has caused many Hoosier farmers to experience significant crops losses," Ellspermann said. "Fields are flooded by overflowing streams or covered by standing water from drenching rain. We are very grateful for the strong cooperation of the Farm Service Administration in expediting this special secretarial disaster declaration request."

Hoosier farmers are encouraged to continue to submit crop damage reports to their county FSA offices as the disaster event is ongoing and continued monitoring is necessary to determine if additional counties should be added to the declaration request.