WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Franklin and Fulton counties in Pennsylvania as drought disaster areas, according to a written statement from U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster's office.
The declaration, made official Tuesday, will allow eligible farmers to receive low-interest emergency loans through the department's Farm Service Agency, according to the statement.
"Farmers have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for FSA loans ... Loans will be considered after taking into account the extent of losses, security available and a farmer's ability to repay the loans," Shuster, R-Pa., said.
Shuster's announcement listed Somerset and Bedford counties as also having received drought disaster designations.
Farmers can contact their local USDA Farm Service Center for more information about eligibility requirements and application procedures. The information also can be found at disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
