Hulud
09-07-2006, 07:57 AM
Georgia Declared Disaster Area Because Of Drought
POSTED: 6:51 am EDT September 7, 2006
ALBANY, Ga. -- Almost all of Georgia has been designated as an agricultural disaster area because of drought.
But the Georgia Peanut Commission says low-interest loans avaialble to farmers because of that is not enough. The commission is asking Congress for emergency funds to help peanut growers survive the drought and record-high energy costs.
The Peanut Commission's board said in a letter to Georgia's congressional delegation and to key lawmakers from other states that many farmers already are strapped with debt. The letter said farmers need immediate cash payments to help "mitigate the double whammy of weather and skyrocketing energy costs."
At worst, the drought can wipe out a field. At the very least, it can reduce yields and lower quality, making the crop less valuable.
In the nine Southern peanut-producing states, from Virginia to Texas, the peanut crop is rated seven percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 31 percent good and 4 percent excellent. The worse ratings are in Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
POSTED: 6:51 am EDT September 7, 2006
ALBANY, Ga. -- Almost all of Georgia has been designated as an agricultural disaster area because of drought.
But the Georgia Peanut Commission says low-interest loans avaialble to farmers because of that is not enough. The commission is asking Congress for emergency funds to help peanut growers survive the drought and record-high energy costs.
The Peanut Commission's board said in a letter to Georgia's congressional delegation and to key lawmakers from other states that many farmers already are strapped with debt. The letter said farmers need immediate cash payments to help "mitigate the double whammy of weather and skyrocketing energy costs."
At worst, the drought can wipe out a field. At the very least, it can reduce yields and lower quality, making the crop less valuable.
In the nine Southern peanut-producing states, from Virginia to Texas, the peanut crop is rated seven percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 31 percent good and 4 percent excellent. The worse ratings are in Georgia, Alabama and Florida.