HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The United States Department of Agriculture has designated several counties in north-central Montana as natural disaster counties due to the ongoing drought.
Hill and Wheatland Counties have been designated as primary disaster areas, while the contiguous counties of Blaine, Chouteau, Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Liberty, Meagher, and Sweet Grass are also eligible for assistance from the Farm Service Agency.
Phillips and Valley Counties received the designation back in May.
This designation makes local farms eligible for emergency loans and other additional federal assistance.
31 counties in Montana have now been declared natural disaster counties, but Governor Greg Gianforte is requesting that the USDA declare’s the entire state as a primary natural disaster area.
