Four Florida Counties Named Disaster Areas due to Drought

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has named four Florida counties as primary natural disaster areas due to damages inflicted by the drought.

Alachua, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties will qualify for natural disaster assistance, the USDA announced Wednesday.

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," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Were also telling Florida producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.

Farmers and ranchers in contiguous counties also qualify for the assistance. Farmers included are those in Bradford, Duval, Marion, Clay, Gilchrist, Union, Columbia, Levy and Volusia.

All qualified farm operators in the designated areas are eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from the USDAs Farm Service Agency (FSA). Farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.