U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, 14^th Congressional District, announced Wednesday that Lake and McHenry counties have received primary disaster designations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which also classified Kane County as “contiguous” and eligible for disaster assistance from the Farm Service Agency.

A week ago, the USDA gave Lee and Whiteside counties primary disaster designations, and giving contiguous designations to Bureau, DeKalb, Henry and Kendall counties.

“This is the worst drought Illinois has seen in more than 50 years,” Hultgren said. “Thankfully, farmers, producers and even other businesses in my district can now apply for assistance to maintain stable operations for the year, despite the extraordinary circumstances.”

On Tuesday, Hultgren announced loans available through the Small Business Administration for nonfarm-related and farm-related entities, such as small businesses, cooperatives and nonprofits, which also have suffered because of this year’s drought.

• More information on SBA loans available for entities other than farmers, producers and ranchers can be found at http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/loans-grants/small-business-loans/disaster-loans.
• More information on Farm Service Agency programs available for those who have suffered crop loss, livestock loss, or damaged farm property can be found at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/disasterfsaprograms.pdf.

Hultgren serves on the House Agriculture Committee. Last week he voted in favor of the Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012 (House Resolution 6233), which reauthorized the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program,