Beebe Asks For Disaster Declaration For All 75 Counties In Arkansas
by July 10, 2012 12:03 pm 95 views
Gov. Mike Beebe has asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for a Secretarial Disaster Designation to cover all 75 counties in Arkansas.
Persistently dry conditions now have caused 88% of the state to be in a severe drought and 36% of the state is in an extreme drought, according to the Governor's office.
“It will take much more than the recent scattered rain to break these drought conditions,” Beebe said. “Many of our farmers and ranchers face a tough season ahead, and the federal government can provide them with tools to ease the financial impact of crop losses.”
If issued, the declaration would qualify eligible farmers and ranchers to receive emergency loans to support operations hampered by the drought.