On September 3, President Obama declared a major disaster in the State of North Carolina based  on  losses caused by Hurricane Irene that occurred Aug. 25 – Sept. 1.

As a result of this major disaster, eight North Carolina counties were declared eligible for Federal disaster assistance, including Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency (EM) loans for eligible family farmers.  Bertie County is included in the primary disaster area.

In addition to the primary disaster counties, 19 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 include Gates, Hertford and Northampton.

According to Michelle Hurdle-Winslow of the USDA, effective Sept. 3 farmers in Bertie, Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Currituck, Hertford or Gates Counties may apply for EM loans for physical and production  losses.  May 3, 2012 is the deadline for filing an application. The local office is located at 512 S. Church Street Hertford, NC 27944 and has office hours of 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Winslow said that any farmer who suffered a physical and production loss should contact her office for additional information.