Illinois Governor Seeks Federal Flood Relief for Crops

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner has requested federal flood relief for all counties in Illinois experiencing crop damage.

The Republican governor sent a letter Thursday to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack seeking to add affected Illinois counties to a “secretarial disaster declaration.”

Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Philip Nelson toured Iroquois County with U.S. Farm Service Agency officials this week. Officials estimate 40 percent of the crops in Iroquois County, about 75 miles south of Chicago, were under water at some time this week.

State officials will meet Monday to review loss assessments in determining whether a county is eligible for assistance. A federal disaster declaration would allow affected farmers to get low-interest emergency loans.

Those with flood-affected crops should contact the Illinois State Farm Service Agency.

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