Georgia gets federal nod for drought assistance

On Thursday, September 8th, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 150 of Georgia's 159 counties will be able to apply for federal assistance in regard to crop production losses in the form of emergency loans.

In late August, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop and other members of Georgia's congressional delegation urged U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to grant Secretarial Disaster Designations for Georgia counties--including Bibb-- that have been affected directly by the state's ongoing drought.

Due to high temperatures that have scorched Georgia over the past few months, and parts of the Peach State's agricultural industry, particularly farming communities in southwest part of the state, have suffered severe economic hardships.

Additional information can be found at www.fsa.usda.gov or www.fema.gov.