4 Counties Named Crop Disaster Areas
Four California counties, struck in January by crop-wilting freezes that caused an estimated $88.9 million in damage, were declared federal natural disaster areas Friday, making growers eligible for Farmers Home Administration Loans.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Richard Lyng declared Ventura, Riverside, San Diego and San Luis Obispo counties disaster areas because of severe winter freezes that damaged citrus, strawberry, avocado and vegetable crops, along with nursery stock and field flowers.
The state Office of Emergency Services applied for the disaster declaration in March, estimating losses at $88.9 million.
The natural disaster designation allows qualifying growers to obtain loans of up to $500,000 at 4.5% interest to offset crop losses.
Growers in eight counties contiguous to those declared disaster areas also will be eligible for the loans, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Imperial, Kern, King and Monterey counties.
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