USDA Grants North Carolina Federal Disaster Aid

85 counties designated as disaster areas due to the ongoing drought

September 15, 2007

NORTH CAROLINA STATEWIDE NEWS -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted the Governor's request to have 85 counties designated as disaster areas due to the ongoing drought in North Carolina. The declaration makes low interest Emergency Disaster Loans available to farmers who are ineligible for credit elsewhere. Under USDA rules, there are 11 contiguous counties included in the disaster declaration:

• Beaufort
• Camden
• Carteret
• Martin
• New Hanover
• Onslow
• Pamlico
• Pasquotank
• Pender
• Pitt
• Washington

Governor Easley said, "I am pleased the U.S. Department of Agriculture has acted on our request. The drought this summer, coming on top of the Easter freeze and the windstorm last spring, has devastated many farms across the state. This declaration is a good first step that will provide financial assistance for eligible farmers to help them recover some of their losses and get ready for the next growing season. Our farmers need all the help they can get."

USDA Loss Assessment Reports show 85 counties with a 30 percent or greater loss of at least one significant crop. Many farmers in North Carolina have already exhausted their winter hay supplies and have had to find other sources of feed for cattle. Therefore, currently farmers in only 5 counties in North Carolina will not be eligible for low interest Emergency Disaster Loans through the USDA:

• Currituck
• Dare
• Hyde
• Person
• Tyrrell

Eligible farmers in both the primary and contiguous counties can apply for the loans from the Farm Service Agency. The deadline for applying for the loans is May 12, 2008. Farmers should contact the Farm Service Agency office in their county for more information.

Meanwhile, as of September 11, the majority of the state classified in extreme drought, with the following counties classified in severe drought:

• Camden
• Chowan
• Currituck
• Dare
• Gates
• Hertford
• Hyde
• Northampton
• Pasquotank
• Perquimans
• Tyrrell
• Washington

Finally, Carteret County and Pamlico County are the only two counties left in North Carolina to be still classified in a moderate drought.