IROQUOIS COUNTY — Gov. Bruce Rauner has issued a letter to a USDA secretary requesting flood relief.

Rauner issued an official letter to Secretary Vilsack on Thursday requesting all counties in Illinois experiencing crop damage related to recent flooding be included in a Secretarial Disaster Declaration.

Earlier in the week, Director Agriculture Philip Nelson, joined by U.S. Farm Service Agency officials, toured Iroquois County, one of the hardest hit in the state. Officials on the ground in Iroquois County estimate nearly 40 percent of the county’s crops were underwater at one time due to flooding.

The State Emergency Board will convene on Monday, July 27 to review the county emergency board minutes and loss assessments in preparation for determining county eligibility.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will continue to assist FSA in securing benefits for farmers who are impacted by flooding. A Secretarial Disaster Declaration would provide farmers in designated counties the ability to receive low interest emergency loans if they meet all eligibility requirements.

If your crops have been impacted by recent flooding, you can contact your federal crop insurance provider. For more information, you can contact Illinois State Farm Service Agency at 217-241-6600.

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