Governor Beebe Requests Federal Aid for Arkansas Crops Damaged by Gustav, Ike

First posted on 09-15-2008

LITTLE ROCK - While continuing to monitor the impact of Hurricane Ike on Arkansas, Governor Mike Beebe has requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for damage to Arkansas crops caused by the remnants of Hurricane Gustav.

In his letter to Secretary Ed Schaefer, Governor Beebe asked for a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for 45 Arkansas counties: Ashley, Baxter, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleburne, Conway, Crawford, Cross, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Scott, Sebastian, Searcy, Stone, Union, Van Buren, White, Woodruff and Yell.

If issued, the declaration will make federal low-interest loans available to affected farmers and ranchers. In May of 2007, the Department of Agriculture approved a similar request from Governor Beebe following crop freezes during the spring.