WASHINGTON—Fourteen Virginia counties and contiguous localities have been designated as natural disaster areas, and farmers in those areas may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency emergency loans.

Farmers in the following localities who suffered losses caused by drought and excessive heat during the summer can apply for the loans: Accomack, Amelia, Brunswick, Caroline, Chesterfield, Culpeper, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fauquier, Gloucester, Goochland, Greensville, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Louisa, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Nottoway, Orange, Prince George, Prince William, Richmond, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry and Sussex counties, and the cities of Emporia, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Newport News, Petersburg and Suffolk.

The natural disaster designations allow FSA to extend emergency credit to farmers recovering from natural disasters. The loans can be used to replace equipment or livestock, reorganize a farming operation or refinance debt.

Contact a local USDA service center for eligibility requirements and application instructions, or visit farmers.gov/recover.