Emergency loans available for farmers affected by late freeze

Help is on the way for Tennessee Valley farmers whose crops were damaged by freezing temperatures Easter weekend.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making low-interest emergency loans available to farmers in Alabama and Tennessee who suffered losses when nighttime temperatures plummeted into the 20s April 6-8.

The loans will help farmers who lost at least 30 percent of their crop production to the record-setting low temperatures.

"This is going to be some help," said Lauderdale County farmer Randall Vaden whose corn crop was heavily damaged. "We spent about $25,000 replanting corn. That's money we hadn't budgeted for, so these loans could help some with that."

Among the Alabama counties approved for the disaster aid are Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston. Farmers in Hardin, Lawrence, Giles and Wayne counties in Tennessee are also eligible for the loans.

Farmers can apply for the assistance at their local Farm Service Agency office.

The disaster loans will be repaid with 3.75 percent interest over a one- to seven-year period, said Roger Wilson, executive director of the Farm Service Agency's Lauderdale County office.

The Department of Agriculture estimates the late season freeze caused more than $15 million in damage to northwest Alabama farm crops, including $6 million to the corn crop in Colbert County.

Wilson said about 75 percent of the corn that had been planted before the freeze had to be replanted.

Numerous wheat farmers had to cut their fields for hay because the cold weather left the plants unable to produce grain.

With corn and wheat fetching near record prices, Ron Sparks, Alabama's commissioner of agriculture and industries, said the freeze damage was especially troubling for farmers.

"Everybody was talking about how bright this year was going to be for corn farmers," Vaden said.

"I'm afraid that bright light is starting to grow a little dim."

Vaden said dry weather is now taking a toll on the area's corn crop.

Much of north Alabama and southern Tennessee are in an extreme drought.

Vaden said area farmers were disappointed when heavy rain forecast for Wednesday failed to come to fruition.

"If we don't get some more rain pretty soon, the freeze damage to the corn could wind up being an afterthought. The corn is at a crucial stage for water right now and if we don't get it the yield is going to be reduced dramatically," he said.

Sparks said he and other state officials are working with federal leaders to secure additional disaster assistance for Alabama farmers. He, too, is worried the drought will take a toll on this year's crops.

"I've been traveling all over the state and it's dry, dry, dry everywhere. These low-interest loans are just the first step in the process to make sure our farmers have help to make it through these tough times."

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.