N. Idaho farmers get fed help after hail

LEWISTON, Idaho — Officials with the Farm Service Agency in north-central Idaho say some Nez Perce County farmers are eligible for federal loans and disaster assistance after huge hailstones damaged crops. Last week brought a series of hailstorms to the area, with some weather watchers reporting ping-pong sized hailstones. Scott Riggers with the Farm Service Agency in the town of Nezperce told the Lewiston Tribune that dry spring green peas were the hardest-hit crop. Wheat, barley and other grains were also affected, but Riggers said those crops are covered mostly by private crop insurance. Nez Perce County tallied at 34 percent loss in crops. It was the only county in the region to reach the 30 percent threshold set for federal disaster aid.