Contact: Gordon Hickey
www.governor.virginia.gov
February 10, 2009
~ Craig, King and Queen, and Russell Counties receive designation ~
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that the US Secretary of Agriculture has designated Craig, King and Queen, and Russell Counties primary natural disaster areas because of reductions in farm production caused by drought and excessive heat that occurred in 2008.
These disaster designations make farmers eligible for low interest loans and any supplemental relief that might be provided by Congress in the future.
Farmers in the following adjacent counties have received contiguous disaster status and may also be eligible for federal assistance:
Alleghany
Essex
Middlesex
Smyth
Botetourt
Giles
Montgomery
Tazewell
Buchanan
Gloucester
New Kent
Washington
Caroline
James City
Roanoke
Wise
Dickenson
King William
Scott
“Excessive heat and drought reduced the output of farmers in these localities but with approval by the USDA, they are eligible to be considered for assistance,” Governor Kaine said.
Disaster declarations make farm operators in both primary and contiguous areas eligible to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provided they meet certain eligibility requirements. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program, which was approved as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. FSA will consider each application on its own merits by taking into account the extent of the losses, security available and repayment ability. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with additional information.
A request for primary federal drought disaster designation is currently pending for King William County.
