Emergency windstorm loans now available

The Farm Service Agency office in Colfax last week announced assistance that is being made available to Whitman County farmers and ranchers who were affected by last November's windstorm.

The historic windstorm on Nov. 17 reached peak wind speeds near 70 miles an hour, and the resulting damage, which caused wide-spread power outages and downed trees, triggered a Presidential Disaster Designation, according to the news release from the FSA office.

The news release states that low-interest emergency loans are being made available, with the interest rate at 3.625 percent and payment terms of up to 40 years. The maximum loan amount caps out at $500,000.

“They may be used to restore or replace essential property, pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year, pay essential family living expenses, reorganize a farming operation or refinance certain debts,” the release said.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 15, 2016. The release states that “FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.”

More information can be found at disaster.fsa.usda.gov or by contacting the Colfax FSA office.

509-397-4301