Why not a loan?

At the end of August, several counties in New York State received a disaster designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to the extreme drought conditions they faced this summer. Under the federal declaration, farmers may be able to apply for low interest emergency loans and other assistance from USDA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provided they meet eligibility requirements. While these programs will assist some farmers, there may be others that are not eligible or are unwilling to take on additional debt.

One way that community members can help is to continue to support their local farmers and “buy local.” From purchasing your produce at a farmer’s market to supporting restaurants that use local ingredients, all of these actions help not just farmers but the community as a whole. In this way, residents are keeping dollars in their communities and spurring economic growth throughout the supply chain.

Additional information on the USDA Disaster Assistance Program can be found online: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/p…/disaster-assistance-program/index