On July 10, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack issued four separate disaster declarations for the state of Illinois due to tornadoes and drought that occurred during the 2023 Illinois growing season. One declaration was specifically for Randolph County.
USDA reviewed the loss assessment reports and determined there were sufficient production losses to warrant a secretarial natural disaster designation.
For more on the declaration, please see this week’s print edition.