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USDA designates 4 counties in VA as primary natural disaster areas; assistance to producers in NC
Story Date: 1/13/2016
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Source: USDA, 1/7/16
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Isle of Wight, Patrick, Southampton and Surry counties in Virginia as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by flooding that occurred from Sept. 24, 2015, through Oct. 6, 2015.
Our hearts go out to those Virginia 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 nations economy by sustaining the successes of Americas farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. Were also telling Virginia producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.
Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Virginia also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:
Carroll George Newport News
Charles City Greensville Prince
Floyd Henry Suffolk
Franklin James City Sussex
Franklin City
Farmers and ranchers in Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Stokes and Surry counties in North Carolina also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.
All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Jan. 06, 2016, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDAs 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.
Other FSA programs that can provide assistance, but do not require a disaster declaration, include the Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and FarmRaised Fish Program; and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
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