Governor Pawlenty has received notice that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns has granted the Governor’s request to add Douglas, Otter Tail and Swift Counties to the previously declared federal agriculture disaster area. As a result of the latest declaration, farmers and ranchers affected by the drought will be able to receive low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"Harvest is underway in Minnesota and many farmers in these counties are now realizing the effects of this summer's drought," Governor Pawlenty said. “This declaration will help ensure the future of crop and animal agriculture, two very important parts of Minnesota’s strong and diverse economy.”

Because of the latest declaration, the following counties have been named contiguous disaster counties: Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Pope, Stearns, Stevens, Todd, Wadena and Wilkin.

This disaster declaration from the USDA allows affected farmers to receive the assistance of the United States Department of Agriculture, specifically the low-interest Emergency Loan Program administered by the Farm Service Agency. Emergency loan funds 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 the farming operation and refinance certain debts.

In September, the USDA granted the Governor’s request to declare a federal agriculture disaster area for 36 Minnesota counties. The counties are Aitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Norman, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright.