Gov. Easley Requests Federal Disaster Aid for 59 Counties > Southern Governors’ Association

Gov. Easley Requests Federal Disaster Aid for 59 Counties


Press Release October 3, 2008 Economic Development RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare 59 of North Carolina’s 100 counties disaster areas because of drought-related crop losses. Agriculture Department Loss Assessment Reports show excessive agricultural losses for at least one major crop, and significant losses on corn, soybeans, hay, and pasture and other forage crops. Easley sent a letter to federal Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today. “The drought conditions that began in spring of 2007 have devastated many crops, and it is good that rain in the late summer and early fall has eased the drought in parts of the state,” Easley said. “But many of our farmers need help to stay in business, and this disaster assistance will provide financial aid to an industry that is a significant part of the North Carolina economy.” If the disaster declaration is approved by Agriculture Department, it would authorize the Farm Service Agency to make low interest emergency credit loans available to eligible producers. Under U.S. Department of Agriculture rules, if a county is declared a disaster area, then contiguous counties are also eligible for disaster aid. ###