Governor to Request Federal Disaster Declaration for Farmers Loss

Declaration for farmers whose crops and livestock are suffering from the ongoing drought.

August 23, 2007

NORTH CAROLINA STATEWIDE NEWS -- North Carolina Governor Easley will request the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for a federal disaster declaration for farmers whose crops and livestock are suffering from the ongoing drought. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Farm Service Agency will soon have completed a statewide survey of crop loss data from farmers to determine which counties to include in a federal disaster request.

Once the crop loss information is certified by the Farm Service Agency, the governor will send a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture requesting federal disaster aid for those farmers in counties that have at least one covered crop with 30 percent or greater reduction in normal yield. If approved, a federal declaration will make low interest Emergency Disaster Loans available to farmers who cannot get credit elsewhere.

Governor Easley said, "Early indications are that more than 90 counties may meet the criteria for federal disaster assistance. Our farmers need our help, and since we cannot make it rain, we will do everything we can to provide them some financial assistance."

So far, there have been significant losses in corn and soybean crops reported by many farmers. In addition, many also report a lack of hay to feed cattle. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has already initiated a hay alert and established a web page where those farmers with hay for sale can connect with those who need hay to feed livestock.

The service is being made available in an effort to bring together farmers in need of hay with those who have hay for sale. Through the service farmers list their names, addresses and other pertinent information. It should be noted that it is the responsibility of the buyers and sellers to negotiate sales. Currently, there are 139 ads posted through the site.

Furthermore, August will be probably the hottest month ever recorded in North Carolina. Rainfall in some communities is 50-to-75 percent less than normal for this time of year. At Tuesday's N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council meeting, officials received reports that groundwater levels are approaching the lows that occurred in the 2002 drought and that the state would need more than 15 inches of rainfall during the next six months to return to adequate levels. Unfortunately, for North Carolinians and especially farmers, the weather forecasters say there is no significant rainfall expected in North Carolina in the near future