For the City Times

LA CROSSE—Rep. Ron Kind is encouraging Wood County farmers to contact his office to secure assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), following the extreme weather—flooding, freezing rain, and extreme cold—that has caused crop loss.

At the end of July, the USDA announced that farms in the primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties may be considered for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), including FSA emergency loans.

The programs available to farmers can only be utilized if the Farm Service Agency has the proper documentation of the damage to their farms, Rep. Kind’s office can help ensure that they have all proper paperwork prepared.

Farmers impacted by the severe weather Jan. 1 – May 31 may be eligible.

Rep. Kind’s office can help with federal agencies; however, more information is available by calling 1-888-442-8040 or by visiting kind.house.gov.  Residents are also encouraged to report damage to homes and property by calling 211, or their county emergency management offices.

Other assistance may be obtained from the Wood County Farm Service Agency, 101 W. Riverview Expressway, Suite 111, Wisconsin Rapids, or by calling 715-423-3610, ext. 2.