N.C. Gov. Mike Easley said he will ask 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 have nearly completed a statewide survey of crop loss data from farmers to determine which counties to include in a federal disaster request.
“Early indications are that more than 90 counties may meet the criteria for federal disaster assistance,” Easley said. “Our farmers need our help, and since we cannot make it rain, we will do everything we can to provide them some financial assistance.”
Once the crop loss information is certified by Farm Service Agency, the governor will send a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture asking for 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 it is approved, a federal declaration will make low interest Emergency Disaster Loans available to farmers who cannot get credit elsewhere.
Many farmers have reported significant losses in corn and soybean crops and a lack of hay to feed cattle. The state Department of Agriculture has already initiated a hay alert and established a Web page – www.agr.state.nc.us/HayAlert – where those farmers with hay for sale can connect with those who need hay to feed livestock.
August is on track to be the hottest month ever recorded in North Carolina. Rainfall in some communities is 50 percent 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. However, weather forecasters say there is no significant rainfall expected in the near future.
Source: Office of the Governor of North Carolina
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
California Sees Two More Property Insurers Withdraw From Market 
Coral Gables, Florida Tops Beverly Hills as Ritziest Home Market in US 
Undercover St. Louis Officer Beaten by Colleagues Awarded $23.5M 
USAA to Lay Off 220 Employees 
