The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 17 Georgia counties as primary natural disaster areas due to drought conditions. The designation allows the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.
“Drought conditions can be devastating for many agricultural operations. Through these designations, Georgia’s farmers and ranchers will have access to the emergency credit that is critical to their recovery from severe drought conditions,” said State Executive Director for FSA in Georgia Arthur Tripp.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the primary counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season last year for more than eight consecutive weeks.
The counties declared primary for eligibility purposes include Bartow, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, Rabun, Towns, Union, White, and Whitfield counties.
The USDA said these contiguous counties are also eligible for assistance: Banks, Catoosa, Cobb, Forsyth, Fulton, Hall, Paulding, Polk, Stephens, Walker, Columbia, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Lincoln, Dade, Carroll, and Haralson.
Producers in the eligible counties have until November 25, 2024, to apply for FSA emergency assistance.
FSA emergency loans allow producers to borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses, up to a maximum of $500,000.
