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Show Federal droughtprograms available in Utah l tah li rurrrMly fxrxr-iencinif fxrxr-iencinif one of the worst droushu in the history of the state. Aneullurr Li a major industry which eonlributcs (rrt-ally to the economy of the slate and is experiencing extreme ex-treme financial hardship as a rrsull of the drought. Ther are several federal drought assistance protrrams which ean offer some assistance to the farmers and ranchers of the stale. Jerry Olds says there are two programs hich may be of (Treat benefit: The Emergency Ioan Program of The Farmer's Home Administration Adminis-tration iFHA) and The Emergency Emer-gency Livestock Fed Pro-frram Pro-frram adminislered by the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS). Olds is coordinating federal drought assistance programs for the state. The FHA Emergency Loan Program makes available to eligible farmers and ranchers low interest (5) loans for losses they have suffered as a result of the drought. Once a loan is approved, the farmer or rancher can use the money for almost any purpose. One eligibility requirement for the program is that the applicant be unable to obtain crrdil from other sources. If the farmers or ranchers w ill ork with their local bankers and FHA. a coojMTative agreement agree-ment ean be worked out in this regard. FHA has indi cited that they will give first priority to drought related applications in an attempt to speed up the process time. The Emergency Livestock Feed Program administered by the ASCS offers a cost sharing program to livestock operators for fe-d he must purchase. To be eligible for this program, the county must be designated a disaster area and in l"tah all the counties except Salt Lake and Utah counties have been designated desig-nated disaster areas. Under this program. ASCS can pay up to $.02 per lb. not exceed ing 50o of the cost on livestock feed. To be eligible for assistance under this program a livestock live-stock operator must have experienced a feed loss of cither crop or of range land and now must purchase feed to meet the needs of his livestock. This program currently cur-rently covers the period up to September 1. 1977 but it appears that it will be extended ex-tended into the winter months and any feed now being purchased would be eligible for this cost sharing program. For more information and assistance regarding this program, pro-gram, contact the local office of the ASCS located in most counties in the state. For other drought related imormaimn roniari ine dnnight information renter: .VU 7777. P.M. 21GC. State Capitol Pudding. |