The USDA issued this statement yesterday about impacts of the recent drought on Early County in GA and surrounding counties, which also receive drought benefits from this declaration:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Early County in Georgia as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.
“Our hearts go out to those Georgia farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We’re also telling Georgia producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.”
Farmers and ranchers in Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Miller and Seminole counties in Georgia also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.
Farmers and ranchers in Henry and Houston counties in Alabama also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.
All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Oct. 29, 2014, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.
Meanwhile, the latest Drought Monitor shows no change in the area of drought across the Southeast, although the area of abnormally dry conditions expanded slightly.
