Farmers in area eligible for assistance

By John Crane

Published: October 20, 2008

The federal government has designated Pittsylvania County a primary natural disaster area because this year’s drought and excessive heat reduced farm production, Gov. Timothy Kaine announced Monday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the designation Friday, which includes 10 other counties, said Gordon Hickey, spokesman for Kaine. The others include Halifax, Campbell, Bedford, Nelson, Amherst, Amelia, Dinwiddie, Louisa, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties.

Farmers in declared disaster areas are eligible for low-interest loans and supplemental relief that Congress may provide in the future. Farmers in Danville, Lynchburg, Bedford and Petersburg and in certain adjacent counties, including Henry and Franklin, have received contiguous disaster status and also may be eligible for federal assistance.

Farmers can apply at the county’s Farm Service Agency Office at (434) 432-9455, ext. 2. To find out how to apply, contact the Virginia Cooperative Extension office in Chatham at (434) 432-7770.

“The low-interest loans farmers in these counties are now eligible to apply for could provide much needed assistance,” Kaine said in a statement. “We anticipate that the USDA will soon respond to the many additional requests for disaster designation.”

Elaine Lidholm, communications director for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said farmers wishing to apply for assistance will need to document a five-year history proving this year’s losses compared to the past four.

“It is important to get an application in,” Lidholm said Monday. She said she is unaware of a deadline, but “(applying) sooner is better than later.”

Pittsylvania County has 1,304 farms, more than a quarter of Virginia’s 4,700 farms, Lidholm said, citing 2002 Census figures, the latest available.

Farmers can apply at the county’s Farm Service Agency Office at (434) 432-9455, ext. 2. To find out how to apply, contact the Virginia Cooperative Extension office in Chatham at (434) 432-7770.

Contact John R. Crane at or (434) 791-7987.