ENC Farmers Can Apply For Disaster Assistance For Crop Loss

Eastern North Carolina farmers may be eligible to receive part of a $3 billion disaster relief package from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Farmers can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plusbeginning Wednesday. According to a news release from the USDA, the disaster relief package, passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in June, helps farmers offset losses from natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian. The assistance will also provide supplemental disaster payments to help producers who were unable to plant crops this year. Farmers in counties with a Presidential or Secretarial Disaster Designation are eligible for assistance. The USDA also provides emergency low-interest loans to help producers recover from natural disasters.