Texas Gov. Requests Disaster Assistance for Briscoe County Following June Storms

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency provide disaster relief and assistance for Briscoe County that has suffered damage from excessive rain, hail, high winds, lightning and tornados that occurred June 21-22.

The governor is seeking approval from the USDA for Federal Emergency Loan Program assistance for agricultural producers.

Initial estimates report damage to 20,000 acres of cotton, 5,000 acres of grain sorghum, as well as damage to forage sorghum and wheat crops. The storms caused an estimated $220,000 to farm machinery and equipment.

Qualified farm operators in designated counties are eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency. Producers can borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses, or a maximum of $500,000.

The agency also offers additional programs, such as technical assistance, to eligible farmers.