ASSOCIATED PRESS
BILLINGS – Montana’s
governor requested a disaster designation from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture for 11 counties that reported significant weather-related crop
losses, officials said.
Democratic
Gov. Steve Bullock has submitted the request to Agriculture Secretary Sonny
Perdue, “The Billings Gazette” reported.
Approval of
the request covering 2019 weather damage would make affected producers eligible
for emergency loans and other federal emergency assistance programs, officials
said.
Approval or
disapproval of the disaster designation by the USDA is the final step in a
multi-part review process after a governor submits a request, officials said.