Following weeks of severe drought during the growing season, the United States Department of Agriculture has designated over 30 counties in Georgia, including 10 in the metro Atlanta area, as "primary natural disaster areas." This declaration enables farmers within these regions to seek emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for recovery efforts.
Arthur Tripp, FSA's state executive director for Georgia, emphasized the agency's dedication to assisting agricultural producers affected by natural disasters, highlighting the critical role of emergency credit in their recovery from the drought's impacts.
In November, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded drought conditions in north Georgia ranging from "moderate" to "exceptional," affecting approximately 5.4 million residents and significantly impacting agricultural operations. The drought led to substantial crop losses and delayed harvests due to the dry conditions. Georgia, home to over 39,000 farms and nearly 10 million acres of farmland, is a leading producer of peanuts, pecans, and blueberries, among other crops.
Source: atlantanewsfirst.com