72 Counties Eligible for U.S. Drought Aid
Agriculture Secretary Richard E. Lyng declared 22 counties in Tennessee and 17 in North Carolina natural disaster areas Tuesday, saying farmers in those areas and 33 adjoining counties now qualify for aid because of the drought in the Southeast.
The disaster designations allow family farmers to apply for emergency loan assistance from the Farmers Home Administration.
Previous disaster declarations extended similar relief to more than 300 counties in other parts of the Southeast, where agricultural damage from the drought is estimated at more than $2.5 billion.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
