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Giles Qualifies As Natural Disaster Area
Posted on March 06, 2010
Giles County is among seven counties in Tennessee that has qualified as natural disaster areas. According to Governor Phil Bredesen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved his request for federal farm assistance due to excessive rain and flooding that occurred in September and October.
“The 2009 growing season was certainly unpredictable and challenging for many of our state’s farmers. This disaster designation will be important for helping those who experienced significant crop losses during last year’s unusually wet harvest,” Bredesen stated in a press release. “I’m pleased that USDA has responded so promptly to my request.”
The designation makes farmers in the designated counties eligible to apply for assistance, including emergency loans and supplemental farm payments, through their local USDA Farm Service Agency.
Also qualifying as secondary, adjoining disaster counties are Lawrence, Lincoln, Marshall and Maury Counties.
Farmers in affected counties reported crop losses ranging from 20-50 % for major crops including corn, soybeans, cotton and tobacco. Some counties reported receiving record rainfall of as much as 10-12 inches during what are normally the driest months of the year.
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