Delaware Receives Primary Drought Disaster Designation

WASHINGTON — Delaware’s congressional delegation – Sens. Joe Biden and Tom Carper (both D-Del.) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) — are pleased to announce that the state of Delaware will be eligible for assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) as a result of the state’s on-going drought.  The assistance includes emergency loans from FSA and funds from the new Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE), which was approved as part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.

"This has been a difficult season for farm operations in Delaware," the delegation said.  "We thank USDA for seeing the need in our state and providing assistance to farmers in Kent, Sussex, and New Castle Counties.  This federal drought designation will offer critical relief to our farming community."

Earlier this month, Delaware’s congressional delegation, as well as Governor Ruth Ann Minner, wrote to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Edward T. Schafer, requesting that Delaware receive a primary natural disaster designation for 2008, thus making the state eligible for such emergency assistance.