Five Virginia counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas, freeing up emergency loans to farmers and other producers who suffered losses caused by the freeze that occurred from March 1-May 11.

Producers in Caroline, Essex, Hanover, King and Queen and King William counties may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency emergency loans.

This natural disaster designation allows FSA to extend emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts.

Producers in the contiguous Virginia counties of Gloucester, Goochland, Henrico, James City, King George, Lancaster, Louisa, Middlesex, New Kent, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

The deadline to apply for these e...