May 20, 1999

USDA will provide $42 million in flood relief for farmers and ranchers in parts of the country damaged by long-term flooding. The compensation will apply particularly in the Day County, SD, Devil's Lake, ND, and Red River Valley areas of the Upper Midwest. The loss of crop land or pasture due to flooding must have occurred from Oct. 1, 1997, through Sept. 30, 1998.

Signup for the program began May 17 and ends July 2. The county must have been declared a disaster area under a presidential declaration or secretarial designation during Jan. 1, 1997, through Aug. 1, 1998. Land on at least one farm in the county must be crop land or pasture that has been subject to continuous flooding since no later than Oct. 1, 1992. Applicants must own or have a cash lease for the property that has been in effect at least since Oct. 1, 1997.

At least $12 million of the $42 million total will be reserved for livestock producers.