Drought Triggers Disaster Declaration for Alabama Counties

Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate announced that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has designated 19 Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas because of severe drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the counties experienced either D2 drought for eight or more consecutive weeks or D3 to D4 conditions during the growing season. Pate said the drought reduced row crop yields and forage availability, leaving many cattle producers without enough hay for winter and delaying winter grazing plantings because of dry soils. “These drought-related challenges have been tough on our farmers,” Pate said, urging producers to contact local USDA offices for assistance.

The designated primary counties are Barbour, Bibb, Butler, Chambers, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Monroe, Pickens, Pike, Shelby and Tuscaloosa. A Secretarial disaster designation makes eligible farm operators in primary and contiguous counties able to apply for Farm Service Agency emergency loans within eight months, meaning by August 29. For more details, visit FSA.gov or contact your local FSA office.