Stevenson — Farmers in many Washington state counties, including Skamania County, are eligible for emergency assistance for losses caused by unseasonably rainy and cold weather last spring, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., announced Monday.
“Many Washington state farmers suffered severe losses due to last year’s spring weather,” Cantwell said in a statement.
Excessive rain and low temperatures, flooding, frost and high winds created significant damage to produce, including grapes, tree fruit, wheat and hay. Weather-related losses occurred between Jan. 1 and July 31 of last year.
Farmers and producers from Skamania and 19 other counties are listed as contiguous disaster counties, meaning they may be considered for assistance from the Farm Service Agency and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program.
The farmers and producers have eight months from Monday to apply for the emergency loan assistance and can do so by contacting their local Farm Service Agency office.
