Georgia expands drought assistance to more Middle Georgia counties
Baldwin, Jones, and Monroe Counties now eligible for federal aid
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Farmers in Baldwin, Jones, and Monroe counties are now eligible for federal drought assistance following a new expansion of disaster designations across Georgia.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced that an additional 20 counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas due to the ongoing drought.
While Baldwin, Jones, and Monroe are not among those newly designated primary counties, they are now included as contiguous counties, making farmers in those areas eligible to apply for Farm Service Agency emergency loan assistance.
What’s new
The latest expansion increases access to federal aid by extending eligibility to counties neighboring newly designated disaster areas. That includes Baldwin, Jones, and Monroe counties in Middle Georgia.
What was announced April 22
The update builds on an earlier April 22 declaration that already placed much of Middle Georgia under primary disaster status.
That initial designation included Bibb, Bleckley, Crawford, Dodge, Dooly, Hancock, Houston, Macon, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Taylor, Telfair, Treutlen, Twiggs, Washington, Wheeler, Wilcox and Wilkinson counties in the 41NBC coverage area.
With that declaration, farmers in those counties became eligible for federal disaster assistance tied to drought conditions.
The April 22 announcement designated 126 Georgia counties as primary natural disaster areas.
What it means for farmers
Under both designations, farmers in primary and contiguous counties may be considered for emergency loan assistance through the Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met.
Officials say the funding is intended to help farmers recover from losses and continue operations during prolonged drought.
“Extreme drought conditions are impacting thousands of farm families across our state — causing even more uncertainty and driving up costs on the farm at a critical time,” said Tyler J Harper.
Harper said the expanded declaration allows more producers to access federal support as drought conditions continue across Georgia.
Farmers are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency office for more information about eligibility and assistance options.
