Governor Easley is Requesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Designate Ashe, Alexander, Wilkes and Watauga Counties as Disaster Areas



Governor Easley noted that “Agriculture is a multi-billion dollar industry in North Carolina, and we will do everything we can to help our farmers.” He continued, “This freeze destroyed many of this year’s fruit and vegetable crops, including cultivated plants, perennials, shrubs and vines which suffered the highest losses at $57.9 million. Fruits and vegetables, which include apples, peaches and various berries, suffered estimated losses of $26.5 million. Other crops affected included corn, wheat, barley and Irish potatoes.” According to the initial assessments, 47 counties had excessive losses, which is defined as experiencing at least one crop with a 35 percent or greater reduction in normal yield.



Preliminary reports submitted by the U.S. Farm Service Agency offices in North Carolina estimate crop losses across the state total $111.7 million. The disaster designation is the first step toward making federal Emergency Credit Loans available to the farmers in these counties.

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