By Phillip Moore
Key Program Technician Conservation, GIS, & Environmental Compliance
On July 16, 2021, Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack declared a natural disaster in the State of Georgia based on damages and losses caused by a freeze that occurred April 22, 2021.
In accordance with Section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 2 adjacent counties in North Carolina are named as contiguous counties where eligible family farmers may qualify for FSA emergency (EM) loan assistance. These counties are: Clay and Cherokee.
Farm Loan Officer Kathy Jett said that effective July 16, 2021, farmers in Clay and Cherokee counties may apply for EM loans for production losses.
March 16, 2022 is the deadline for filing an application. The local office is located at 225 Valley River Avenue, Suite J, Murphy, NC 28906 and has office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, by appointment only.
Jett said that any farmer who suffered a production loss should contact her office for additional information.