“This USDA disaster declaration is welcome news as many Hoosier farmers are facing tough times because of the extreme levels of rain the past few months,” said U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly in a statement. “Many parts of our state have experienced excessive and prolonged rainfall, which has caused severe damage to planted fields and made others unplantable throughout Indiana. Thousands of Hoosier farmers are going to experience significant financial losses this year as a result of the record-breaking rain, and this disaster declaration will allow for resources to be made available to these counties to help deal with crop losses.”

Gov. Mike Pence, Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, and Indiana Farm Service Agency Executive Director Julia A. Wickard sent out a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack in late July requesting the declaration.

Under the secretarial disaster declaration, producers may apply for low-interest emergency loans if they have suffered at least a 30 percent loss in crop production.

“Farms in counties all across the state have suffered because of the excessive rainfall we’ve experienced during our spring and summer months this year,” Pence said. “I’m thankful to the Indiana Farm Service Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture for recognizing the need for assistance for our Hoosier farmers, and I hope that those affected will apply for the loans they need.”

Farmers interested in applying for loans can talk to their local FSA offices for details and can visit http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=in&agency=fsa.