<p>The state is issuing a U.S. Department of Agriculture secretarial disaster for 11 counties, including, Bartholomew, Brown, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jennings, Johnson, Marion, Ohio, Ripley, Rush, Shelby and Switzerland. </p>
<p>Emergency loans may be made to farmers who:</p>
<p><ul><li>Are established family farm operators</li><li>Are citizens or permanent residents of the United States</li><li>Have the ability, training or experience necessary to repay the loan</li><li>Have suffered a qualifying physical loss, or a production loss of at least 30% in any essential farm or ranch enterprise</li><li>Cannot obtain commercial credit</li><li>Can provide collateral to secure an EM loan</li><li>Have repayment ability</li></ul></p>
<p>Emergency loan application will be received through April 29, 2020.</p>
<p>For questions and further information, contact USDA, Farm Loan Programs at 812-663-8674, extension 2, in Greensburg.</p>
