Richard Bergold, State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Delaware announced Wednesday that the USDA has designated the entire state of Delaware as a primary natural disaster area based on damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from June 15, 2008, and continuing.

This designation makes qualified farm operators in all three counties eligible for low interest emergency loan assistance. Loan funds may be used to pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year, pay essential family living expenses, reorganize the farming operation and refinance certain debts.  Delaware farmers have until June 22, 2009 to apply for emergency loan assistance. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.

In addition to the emergency loan program, FSA has a variety of other loan, conservation and crop insurance programs available to assist farmers.  Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

FSA news releases and media advisories are available on FSA’s Web site: www.fsa.udsa.gov.