Indiana seeks federal aid for 88 counties over crop losses

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Gov. Eric Holcomb is seeking federal disaster aid for farmers across most of Indiana for crop losses caused by flooding and excessive rainfall during the planting season.

Holcomb said Friday his request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks an agricultural disaster designation for 88 of Indiana's 92 counties.

The four Indiana counties not included in the governor's request are Benton, Rush, Shelby and Warren counties.

Holcomb says persistent rainfall in recent months have left fields saturated statewide , "hurting Indiana crops and our farmers."

A disaster designation can be requested when at least 30 percent of one crop is damaged or lost in a county. The 88 counties included in Holcomb's request have reported data which meet that threshold.

A disaster designation would make emergency low-interest loans available to farmers.