YAKIMA – Gov. Christine Gregoire on Friday asked the federal government to designate 14 counties in the state as farm disaster areas as a result of the severe drought conditions this year.
She is seeking assistance for 17 of Washington’s 39 counties in all; an earlier request involving three counties is already under review.
The request opens the door for possible low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and the federal Small Business Administration for farmers and other agricultural businesses hit hard by the drought.
Dean Boyer, a spokesman for the Washington State Farm Bureau, said the move was good news for farmers in that it opens two new avenues of assistance. But how many farmers and ranchers will borrow more money during a severe drought remains in question, he said.
“Even though the loans are low-interest, it’s a difficult decision on the part of a farmer to go further into debt when their source of income has literally dried up,” Boyer said.
“Certainly, there will be some farmers and ag-related businesses for which this will be very welcome relief. But it’s difficult to immediately say how many farmers and ranchers will take advantage of these opportunities.”
In September, Gregoire sought a disaster declaration for Garfield, Whitman and Pacific counties in a letter to Agriculture Department Secretary Mike Johanns. The agency is still considering that request. In a letter to Johanns on Friday, Gregoire requested the same declaration for an additional 14 counties.
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