McHenry County among areas included in disaster declaration over May freezing

Farmers in McHenry County could benefit from Monday’s declaration of a natural disaster by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, over the area’s freezing weather from May 5 through May 30 earlier this year.

Growers who experienced losses because of the freeze in the spring are eligible for emergency loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency to help them recover, according to a news release.

Seven Wisconsin counties were included in the primary disaster declaration, according to the release, and McHenry, Lake and Boone counties in Illinois were all listed as contiguous counties, allowing farmers in those areas to get the same benefits as producers in the primary counties.

“From flooding to drought and now freeze, Illinois farmers continue to show resiliency year after year,” Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II said in a statement. “Thank you to Secretary Vilsack and Governor Pritzker for continuing to give Illinois’ farmers the resources they need to come back from these situations.”

Producers in McHenry County should contact their local USDA Service Center at 815-338-0444 to ask questions or file a notice of loss, one of the first steps in applying for relief.