GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES FEDERAL DISASTER DESIGNATIONS FOR EIGHT
VIRGINIA COUNTIES
~ Requests pending for 44 additional localities ~

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced today that the U.S.
Secretary of Agriculture has designated Bedford, Bland, Brunswick,
Caroline, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, and Orange counties primary
natural disaster areas due to reductions in farm production caused by
drought and high temperatures that occurred from January 1, 2007, and
continuing.
These disaster designations make farmers eligible for low-interest
loans and any supplemental relief that may be provided by Congress.
Farmers in the independent cities of Bedford and Lynchburg as well as
in these adjacent counties have received contiguous disaster status and
also may be eligible for federal assistance: Albemarle, Fauquier,
Lunenburg, Rockbridge, Amherst, Franklin, Madison, Smyth, Botetourt,
Giles, Mecklenburg, Spotsylvania, Campbell, Greene, Northumberland,
Stafford, Caroline, Greensville, Nottoway, Tazewell, Clarke, Hanover,
Pittsylvania, Westmoreland, Culpeper, King and Queen, Prince William,
Wythe, Dinwiddie, King George, Pulaski, Essex, King William, Richmond,
Fairfax, Louisa, Roanoke.
“Because of the USDA disaster designation, farmers in these Virginia
localities are now eligible to apply for low-interest loans that can
help provide much needed assistance,” said Governor Kaine. “We
anticipate that the USDA will respond to the many additional requests
in the weeks ahead.”
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 certain eligibility requirements. FSA
will consider each application on its own merits by taking into account
the extent of the losses, security available, and repayment ability.
Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with additional
information.
Requests for primary federal drought disaster designations are
currently pending for these 44 counties:
Albemarle, Essex, Isle of Wight, Richmond, Alleghany, Fauquier, King
and Queen, Roanoke, Amelia, Floyd, Louisa, Rockbridge, Appomattox,
Franklin, Madison, Shenandoah, Augusta, Frederick, Mecklenburg,
Southampton, Botetourt, Giles, Montgomery, Spotsylvania , Campbell,
Greene, Northumberland, Stafford
Clarke, Greensville, Nottoway, Surry, Craig, Halifax, Page, Tazewell,
Cumberland, Hanover, Pittsylvania, Warren, Dinwiddie, Henry,
Rappahannock, Westmoreland.