Local counties eligible for Federal disaster assistance for eligible family farmers

On May 13, 2022, Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack declared a natural disaster in the State of North Carolina based on losses caused by drought that occurred March 22, 2022 and continuing.  As a result of this natural disaster, 3 North Carolina counties were declared eligible for Federal disaster assistance, including Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency (EM) loans for eligible family farmers.  Those primary disaster counties are:

• Duplin

• Onslow

• Pender 

In addition to those 3 primary disaster counties, 9 additional North Carolina counties are named as contiguous counties where eligible family farmers may qualify for FSA EM loan assistance, in accordance with Section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. Those counties are:

• Bladen

• Brunswick

• Carteret

• Columbus

• Jones

• Lenoir

•  New Hanover

• Sampson

• Wayne

Mr. Grady said that effective May 13, 2022, farmers in the above counties may apply for EM loans for physical and/or production losses. January 13, 2023 is the deadline for filing an application. The local office is located at 165 Agriculture Drive, Suite A, Kenansville, NC 28349 and has office hours of 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.  Mr. Grady said that any farmer who suffered a physical and/or production loss should contact his/her office for additional information.