disaster

Koochiching County has been declared a disaster area.

The designation comes from the United States Department of Agriculture and was issued because of the drought-like conditions experienced this year.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Koochiching has experienced one of the driest years on record.

Precipitation to the end of July is more than 4 inches lower than normal.

Four other northern Minnesota counties around Koochiching have also been designated as natural disaster areas.

This allows the area’s agricultural producers to obtain emergency loans to refinance certain debts, replace equipment or livestock, or reorganize a farming operation.

Those eligible for the financial assistance have until next April to apply.