The U-S Department of Agriculture has issued a disaster declaration covering 42 counties in Minnesota affected by the ongoing drought...and Winona County is one of them.
                 
Congressman Tim Walz and Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobachar said the declaration directly affects Houston and Fillmore Counties. It also includes Winona and Olmsted Counties because they are contiguous to Houston and Fillmore counties.
   
The declaration means farmers in these counties are now eligible for emergency loan assistance from the Farm Service Agency to help cover crop and livestock losses.

The primary disaster area includes 21 counties.  Counties that lie next to those counties...another 21 counties....are also eligible for assistance.....