Roderick Currie, acting Farm Service Agency loan manager, says emergency loans for farmers, ranchers and operators are now available through the FSA’s Lincoln County office, located at 1395 Johnny Johnson Drive, Ste. A, Brookhaven.

The loans are now available due to President Trump’s declaration in May of a major disaster in Mississippi caused by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred on April 30.

Because Lincoln and Franklin counties adjoin the primary natural disaster area of Copiah County, Currie said, they have been designated eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Applications will be accepted through Jan. 22, 2018. Farmers who qualify for emergency loans may borrow up to 100 percent of their actual physical loss (not to exceed $500,000) or the amount needed to restore their operation to its pre-disaster condition, whichever is less. FSA emergency loans cover losses from designated disasters and are made to qualified farmers who cannot obtain credit from other lenders in the local area.