Drought disaster funding available for farmers
Family farms across the region are eligible for emergency loan assistance from the Farm Service Agency due to damage or losses from drought occurring this fall.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack declared a natural disaster in the state of Tennessee on Nov. 6 and in North Carolina on Nov. 20.
Swain, Cherokee and Graham counties are eligible for assistance as contiguous counties to the Tennessee drought for losses occurring Oct. 31. Meanwhile, 17 N.C. counties are eligible for drought losses occurring Nov. 14. Primary disaster counties are Jackson, Macon, Swain, Transylvania, Henderson, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Cleveland, Gaston, Polk and Rutherford counties. Contiguous counties that are also eligible for assistance are Haywood, Buncombe, Burke, McDowell, Mecklenburg and Lincoln counties.
The deadline to apply for assistance related to the Tennessee drought is July 8, 2024, and the deadline to apply under the N.C. drought is July 22, 2024. For more information, contact the local FSA office.
