WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – As drought continues to affect the majority of North Carolina, a natural disaster has been declared, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

According to the declaration, Columbus County has been listed as the primary disaster county, and eligible family farmers may be eligible to receive disaster assistance, including Farm Service Agency emergency loans.

Bladen, Brunswick, Pender and Robeson counties have been listed as contiguous counties, and eligible family farmers in these counties may also qualify for FSA EM loan assistance.

The FSA EM loan assistance is granted in accordance with Section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.

Mark Seitz is the cooperative extension director for NC State University in Pender County.

“It’ll be helpful in terms of helping them secure funding for next year to buy the seed and fuel and fertilizer they need to plant next year’s crop, possibly a lower interest rate on the loans on the money they have to borrow to get going,” Seitz said.

He says dry weather usually comes in July but this year, it began in early May, making this the worst drought year he’s seen in more than a decade.

He believes this loan program will especially help new and smaller farmers who don’t have as much savings in the bank. He says the loans are not going to solve all of their problems, but it will offset some of the financial loss they are facing.

“It’s not going to solve all their problems. Obviously, rain at the right time solves a lot of problems. And we just did not get it this year,” Seitz said.

“Effective July 15, 2024, EM loans may be made available to farmers in these counties who qualify for production losses, pursuant to the provisions of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and in accordance with the provisions set forth in Handbook 3-FLP, Part 10,” the USDA announcement states.

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