Governor seeks ag disaster declaration for Illinois

In the midst of historic flooding throughout the State of Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker has urged U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to declare a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Illinois farmers.

The governor sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriclture, USDA, about the flooding in Illinois on July 3.

The USDA’s Farm Services Agency, FSA, recently convened a State Emergency Board, SEB, meeting that recommended all 102 Illinois counties be declared an agriculture disaster. 

A large winter snow melt followed by excessive rain during the normal planting season has caused rivers to rise to historic levels and soils to become saturated over the entire state.

“For months, our state has been battling historic flooding, causing untold damage to homes, businesses, and farms across Illinois,” Pritzker said.

“For our farmers, this has meant delaying, reducing, or even eliminating planting, hurting a core state industry and impacting working families across Illinois. 

“While the state will continue to do everything we can to help, a Secretarial Disaster Declaration will provide much needed aid to impacted farmers in Illinois and I am hopeful the USDA will make this declaration.”

The request from the SEB must be reviewed by USDA staff before the ratification by Secretary

 Perdue, the governor’s office explained.

The declaration will provide access to federal resources for farmers and agri-businesses who experienced an extraordinary and unprecedented spring planting season.

“I appreciate the FSA convening the SEB and recommending this Secretarial Declaration for all 102 counties in Illinois,” said John Sullivan, who is the director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

“Agriculture is our state’s number one industry and we must provide any and all assistance we can from all levels of government.”