In response to a request from Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), the Rural Finance Authority (RFA) has agreed to offer $500,000 in zero-interest loans to help farmers cover the costs for qualifying drought-related watering facility projects and practices. The loans will be offered in the following 36 counties with severe drought conditions: Aitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Norman, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright. As with other RFA loans, these drought-assistance loans will be available for producers through their existing agricultural lenders for financing these projects and practices. The loans can be used for the acquisition of equipment related to well drilling, pipelines, watering facilities, portable pumps, fencing, watering pond restorations, fabricated shelterbelts, and other projects that will provide drinking water for livestock. The RFA loan program is the latest effort at the state level to help drought-stricken livestock producers. The Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources has announced a separate $500,000 grant program to help farmers pay for projects that will provide drinking water for livestock. Interested borrowers should contact their lender or call RFA at (651) 201-6556.
