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Governor Kaine Announces Federal Drought Designations for an Additional 10 Localities

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced today that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has granted federal drought disaster status for an additional ten Virginia localities due to reductions in farm production caused by drought-like conditions since last summer. With these additional designations, a total of 49 Virginia localities have been designated primary disaster areas. The disaster designation makes farmers eligible for low-interest loans and any supplemental relief that may be provided by Congress.

In late February, 2006, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designated the following Virginia counties as primary natural disaster areas due to drought and high temperatures that occurred beginning June 1, 2005:

Bedford, Culpeper, Goochland, Grayson, Hanover, King William, Russell, Surry, Washington and Wise.

Farmers in the following contiguous counties also are eligible for federal drought assistance:

Eligible Contiguous Counties

A – Ca	Ch – F	G – K	L – Po	Pr – Sm	So – Z
Amherst	Charles City	Goochland	Lee	Prince George	Southampton
Botetourt	Chesterfield	Hanover	Louisa	Rappahannock	Spotsylvania
Buchanan	Cumberland	Henrico	Madison	Roanoke	Stafford
Campbell	Dickenson	Isle of Wight	New Kent	Rockbridge	Sussex
Caroline	Fauquier	James City	Orange	Russell	Tazewell
Carroll	Fluvanna	King and Queen	Pittsylvania	Scott	Washington
	Franklin	King William	Powhatan	Smyth	Wythe

The following independent cities have also been given contiguous disaster designation:

Bedford, Bristol, Galax, Lynchburg, Newport News, and Norton.

“Farmers across Virginia continue to struggle with crop damage and losses caused by last year’s drought-like conditions,” Governor Kaine said. “Thanks to the USDA’s approval, these Virginia localities now are eligible to receive some much needed assistance.”

A request for federal disaster designation is pending for Rockbridge County.

The 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 eligibility requirements. FSA will consider each application on its own merits by taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with additional information.

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