The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared more than half of Alabama under a disaster designation, making farms in 39 counties eligible for federal emergency loan assistance. This decision follows an unusual “double hit” to farmers: excessive rain in the spring followed by a summer drought.
Rick Pate, commissioner of the Alabama Dept. of Agriculture and Industries, noted, “I have been in this role approaching seven years now and this is the first time we’ve gotten emergency declaration for too much rain.” The aid aims to cover production losses or repair damaged farm operations after one of the toughest seasons in years.
Talladega County farmer Jeremy Wilson described the situation: “When you’re normally getting those inch, inch and a half rains, we were getting five, and six, and seven inch rains.”…