Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has designated Brunswick, Charlotte, Gloucester, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Prince George, Scott and Surry 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 independent cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Newport News and Petersburg, as well as in the following adjacent counties, have received contiguous disaster status and may also be eligible for federal assistance:
Appomattox
Campbell
Carroll
Charles City
Chesterfield
Dinwiddie
Floyd
Franklin
Greensville
Halifax
Henry
Isle of Wight
James City
King and Queen
Lee
Lunenburg
Mathews
Middlesex
Nottoway
Prince Edward
Russell
Southampton
Sussex
Washington
Wise
York
“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.
Requests for primary federal drought disaster designations are currently pending for these four counties:
Craig
King and Queen
King William
Russell
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