Disaster Declaration Will Help Some SC Farmers Affected by Drought
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Hugh E. Weathers, Commissioner
Media Contact: Katherine Helms, 803-734-5229 / Eva Moore, 803-734-2196, emoore@scda.sc.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 31, 2019
Disaster Declaration Will Help Some SC Farmers Affected by Drought
COLUMBIA — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has designated six counties in South Carolina as natural disaster areas due to drought. They are: Bamberg, Calhoun, Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg and Richland.
The secretarial declaration will allow farmers in these six counties and contiguous counties to apply for certain emergency loans.
Agriculture in South Carolina has suffered under the “flash drought” that affected the southeastern United States over the past several months. In particular, SCDA has received reports of dry pasture leading to livestock sales and culling, and low crop yields.
Despite recent rainfall, 78 percent of the land in the state remains under drought status of some form.
“I’m relieved that some South Carolina farmers stricken by drought will have access to these emergency provisions, and I thank Secretary Perdue for taking action,” said South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. “This drought developed so rapidly, but we may be seeing its effects for a long time.”
Farmers in disaster-designated areas seeking assistance should reach out to their local FSA office.
The Department of Agriculture encourages farmers to continue reporting drought conditions through a simple, mobile-friendly online tool at our website, agriculture.sc.gov.
###
USDA Emergency Loan Program fact sheet: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/2019/emergency-loan-program.pdf
Disaster Declaration Will Help Some SC Farmers Affected by Drought Press Release (pdf)