Governor Perdue Requests USDA Disaster Declaration

Governor Perdue Requests USDA Disaster Declaration

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today formally requested a disaster declaration for 155 Georgia counties from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, due to agriculture damage sustained from drought and excessive temperatures.

“Drought conditions have a serious economic impact on our agriculture industry. Farmers and farming communities throughout the state are suffering due to the drought conditions that we are experiencing this year,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “With this disaster declaration, Georgia farmers will be eligible for assistance to help them through this ongoing drought.”

The Georgia USDA State Emergency Board met today and reviewed damage assessment reports submitted by County Emergency Boards, reflecting production losses in cotton, corn, forage crops, soybeans, pecans, peanuts, tobacco and various fruits and vegetables. 155 of Georgia’s 159 counties have submitted reports reflecting significant crop losses. These findings resulted in the Governor’s request for a USDA disaster declaration.

If the disaster declaration is issued, farmers in all primary and contiguous disaster counties will be able to apply for low interest emergency loans at their local Farm Service Agency office.

Fannin, Gilmer, Towns and Union Counties deferred to submit damage assessment reports until harvest. These four counties may be eligible as contiguous counties and may submit reports at a later date to qualify as primary disaster counties.

In June Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Carol Couch declared a level one drought across the state based on the recommendation of the State Drought Response Committee.

A copy of the letter sent to Secretary Johanns by Governor Perdue is attached.

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