In December the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared six California counties (Amador, Merced, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Ventura and Yolo) – plus 24 more counties that are contiguous to them – a disaster area “due to agricultural losses caused by drought beginning Jan. 1, 2012, and continuing,” according to a Dec. 24 letter from the California Emergency Management Agency to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is making “injury disaster loans” available to small non-farm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and nonprofit organizations of any size that do business directly with growers – such as truckers and suppliers of agricultural equipment or services.
Businesses can apply for the loans by phone at 1-800-659-2955 or online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. The deadline to apply is Aug. 19.
Farm Service Businesses Eligible for Federal Loans
