East Central Reporter

State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) shared information in a recent Facebook post for Champaign and Edgar County farmers about claims for emergency loans following the recent tornadoes. Four disaster declarations were issued by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack following the weather events.

"NOTICE: Farmers in Champaign and Edgar counties in our district have eight months from the date of the Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans," he said in the July 12 Facebook post.

Vilsack issued four disaster declarations relevant to Illinois residents, for drought or storm damage, according to a press release. Those declarations affected specific counties and are as follows: 

• Designation 1: A tornado that occurred during March 31, 2023

  Primary Counties: Bureau, Clark & Crawford

  Contiguous Counties: Coles, Henry, Lawrence, Putnam, Stark, Cumberland, Jasper, Lee, Richland, Whiteside, Edgar, LaSalle & Marshall 

• Designation Number 2: A tornado that occurred during April 4, 2023

  Primary County: Fulton Contiguous Counties: Knox, Mason, Schuyler, Warren, McDonough, Peoria & Tazewell 

• Designation Number 3: Tornados and high winds that occurred during March 31, 2023, through April 5, 2023

  Primary Counties: Henry, Mercer, Rock Island & Sangamon

  Contiguous Counties: Bureau, Knox, Menard, Stark, Cass, Logan, Montgomery, Warren, Christian, Macon, Morgan, Whiteside, Henderson & Macoupin 

• Designation Number 4: Drought

  Primary County: Randolph

  Contiguous Counties: Jackson, Monroe, Perry, St. Clair & Washington

“Our Illinois farmers are resilient, facing uncertain weather conditions year after year. I want to thank Gov. J.B. Pritzker for working with Secretary Vilsack and the USDA to ensure our farmers have the resources they need to come back after a natural disaster,” Jerry Costello II, director Illinois Department of Agriculture director, said, according to KWQC.

Individuals who sustained damage in the counties labeled in the declarations are encouraged to contact their local USDA office to file a claim for loss due to the events in those declarations. A USDA Service Center locator has been posted for individuals to find the office in their county so that they can begin the process.

There are two offices serving Champaign County, according to the service center locator. They are located at the following addresses: Champaign Service Center, 2110 W. Park Ct., Suite A, Champaign, IL, (217) 352-3536; Danville Service Center, 1905A U.S. Route 150, Danville, IL, (217) 442-8511. The Danville Service Center also serves Champaign County. 

Edgar County residents can go to the Paris Service Center, which is located at 11759 IL Highway 1, according to the service center locator, or call (217) 465-5325. They can also contact the Sullivan Service Center in Sullivan, IL; the Charleston Service Center in Charleston; and the Effingham Service Center in Effingham.