WASHINGTON—Two localities in Virginia have qualified for natural disaster assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to losses caused by flooding due to excessive rains since Sept. 1.

Farmers and ranchers in Southampton County and Suffolk qualify for assistance because they are contiguous to the seven counties in North Carolina that have been designated by the USDA as primary natural disaster areas.

The localities were designated natural disaster areas on Oct. 21, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible areas have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for information on eligibility requirements and application procedures.

Additional information is also available online at disaster.fsa.usda.gov.