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Drought emergency assistance available to Virginia farmers in 15 localities

Crystal Graham
Farmer safety wearing ear muffs
(© Maurizio Milanesio – stock.adobe.com)

Drought emergency assistance is available to 15 Virginia localities including Rockingham County through USDA emergency loans.

Seven Virginia counties qualified as primary natural disaster areas including:

  • Clarke County
  • Fauquier County
  • Frederick County
  • Loudoun County
  • Rappahannock County
  • Shenandoah County
  • Warren County

Farmers in these primary counties are now eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency, or FSA.

Farmers in contiguous areas to the seven primary declaration counties are also eligible for drought emergency assistance.

The contiguous areas include:

  • Culpeper County
  • Fairfax County
  • Madison County
  • Page County
  • Prince William County
  • Rockingham County
  • Stafford County
  • City of Winchester

This assistance includes FSA emergency loans. Provided eligibility requirements are met, the FSA will assess each emergency loan application individually and will consider specific circumstances and needs. Farmers in eligible localities have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these localities suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season for more than eight consecutive weeks.

For more information on available assistance programs and the application process, visit the Virginia FSA State Office website or call (804) 287-1500.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.