Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s is included Duval and Jim Hogg Counties in a Secretarial Disaster Designation to provide farm operators eligibility and access to recovery assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Texas counties affected by recent severe drought and included in this designation are Atascosa, Duval, Frio, Jim Hogg, Maverick, McMullen, Zapata, and Zavala Counties.
“I would like to thank Secretary Purdue for recognizing this region and providing farm operators with resources to stabilize and recover,” Congressman Gonzalez said. “Through these funds, farmers can focus on their crops, ranches, and herds and continue to feed our country.”
Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability of the operator.
The congressman will continue to work with local, state, and federal officials to ensure that available disaster assistance is granted to all affected South Texan residents and business owners.
