Louisiana’s DeSoto and Red River parishes have been declared primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by tornadoes that occurred on April 26 and 27.

The parishes of Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Natchitoches and Sabine were also declared disaster areas because they are contiguous to the primary disaster locations.

Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said the disaster designation makes farm operators in the primary and contiguous parishes eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program.

Farmers in the eligible parishes have eight months from the June 30 declaration date to apply for the emergency loan assistance.

Farm operators should contact their local FSA office for more information.