KCBA - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News Weather-USDA Declares Counties Drought Disaster Areas
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has just declared most of California, a natural drought disaster area. Fifty of the 58 counties in the state are on the list, including San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz County.
They're being called natural disaster areas because of all the crop losses that have happened with this year's drought. But good news, this declaration will make loans available to farmers who have suffered financial losses from the drought this year.
Farmers will be eligible for the emergency loans depending on how bad their losses are and their ability to repay the loans. The USDA says 21 counties are primary disaster areas, including San Benito County.
Twenty-nine more, including Monterey and Santa Cruz, are considered disaster areas since they're next to counties where big losses have occurred.
This declaration comes as farmers struggle with a third consecutive year of drought conditions in the state. The governor has also issued a statement asking for more federal help.
