Disaster Assistance Mediation Service Available

| 9/5/2012

With the announcement of federal disaster assistance for North Dakota farmers and ranchers comes paperwork. According to Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, the North Dakota Mediation Service (NDMS) can help.

"Gov. Jack Dalrymple has been informed that some counties in North Dakota have been declared a disaster due to the drought, and that farmers and ranchers in the designated counties can apply for emergency loans through the Farm Service Agency (FSA)," Goehring said. "Producers can contact their local FSA office to learn more about these loans and their eligibility and can call NDMS at 1-800-642-4752 for additional assistance."

Goehring says that producers have eight months to apply for an FSA emergency loan. He adds that the Farm and Ranch Disaster Relief Loan Program through the Bank of North Dakota is again available for farmers and ranchers in drought emergency areas.

"This program provides financing to replenish working capital," Goehring said. "It also provides relief to borrowers by lowering their interest rate and providing options for reamortization of the loan term."

Goehring says more information about the program is available from local lenders or NDMS.

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