DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware has been granted an emergency disaster designation by federal agriculture officials because of a difficult planting and growing season.
Kenny Bounds, a deputy secretary with the Delaware Department of Agriculture, says farmers will be able to apply for assistance under the designation granted by the U.S. Agriculture Department. That includes loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
Farmers must have purchased crop insurance on eligible crops to qualify. Farmers have eight months from the date of the secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans.
The Delaware Department of Agriculture says heavy rains in April and May have hurt farmers this year, destroying several high dollar crops and continuing to threaten the yield of many others.
