USDA declares disaster in Missouri drought areas

The USDA has declared all 114 Missouri counties as primary disaster areas due to drought.

The designation was announced Tuesday in a news release from Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's office. Nixon is touring some areas of the state to look at drought effects.

On Tuesday 97 counties were declared primary disaster areas, adding to 17 counties that were already announced, according to the news release.

Several Southern Illinois counties have also been declared disaster areas.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor showed most of Southeast Missouri in extreme drought. Areas not in extreme drought were in the severe drought category.

A disaster designation allows eligible farmers to be considered for assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), including FSA emergency loans.

Farmers should document any losses or additional costs experienced as a result of weather events, including drought. That information is often required to be eligible for physical and/or production loss loan assistance.

Missouri also has a hay directory for livestock producers as well as other information and resources online at MO.gov <http://www.mo.gov> .