LANSING, MI-- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 43 Michigan counties primary natural disaster areas, following adverse weather conditions.
Seven Upper Peninsula counties are included in that designation.
Officials with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development say farmers in the state were affected this year by everything from severe cold and early snowfall to historic rainfall events. They say the weather impacted both planting and harvest, producing a devastating effect on agricultural community.
The designation makes certain types of federal assistance available to farmers in those areas.
The U.P. counties named natural disaster areas are Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette, Menominee and Schoolcraft.