LIHU‘E — The U.S. Agriculture Department has designated Kaua‘i County as a natural disaster area due to a “severe” drought, which has lasted for more than eight straight weeks during the growing season. The announcement was made by U.S. Agriculture
LIHU‘E — The U.S. Agriculture Department has designated Kaua‘i County as a natural disaster area due to a “severe” drought, which has lasted for more than eight straight weeks during the growing season.
The announcement was made by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack through a letter sent Wednesday to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. The declaration makes it possible for farmers to receive federal loans from the Farm Service Agency.
U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye said the declaration is an important step that will allow the state and counties to receive federal assistance to help farmers, ranchers and others adversely impacted by drought conditions.
“The very dry summer months prolonged and expanded drought conditions throughout the state,” Inouye said in a press release. “A lack of consistent rainfall severely impacts Hawai‘i’s agricultural industry and lowers water tables and reservoirs on every island.
“Kaua‘i is the latest county to receive a federal disaster designation due to these conditions,” he added.
Vilsack in his letter stated that the disaster designation came from the publication of U.S. Drought Monitor. It placed Kaua‘i County in a D2 “Drought Severe” category for enduring eight or more consecutive weeks, or D3 “Drought Extreme” and higher at any time during the growing season.
The designation makes eligible farm operators able to apply for assistance, but there is an eight-month window to apply, according to the letter, and FSA approves applications based on extent of production losses, security available and repayment ability.
