SC Has Another Disaster Declaration

USDA has designated Dorchester County in South Carolina as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by a tornado that occurred on June 4, 2013.

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in South Carolina also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are: Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton & Orangeburg

All counties were designated natural disaster areas making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that Congress has not funded the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.

NC Mountain State Fair Sees Record Attendance

Good weather and a good cause drew a record number of fairgoers to the N.C. Mountain State Fair Wednesday for Ingles Day. The fair had 13,924 people come through the gates donating about 16,000 pounds of food to MANNA Food Bank. The 20th edition of the N.C. Mountain State Fair offers mountain fun for everyone. Visitors can enjoy a full weekend of livestock shows, see newborn calves in the Mooternity Ward, listen to a variety of local and regional musical acts, and even come face-to-face with sea lions and alligators.

Other Half of Farm Bill Could See Action in House Next Week

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack expects the House of Representatives to take up the nutrition bill next week. As you remember, the House split nutrition assistance from the farm bill before passing the farm bill.

Biomass Electrical Plant Generating Electricity

A power plant in Halifax County that burns waste wood for fuel has generated its first electricity.

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative and NOVI Energy say the electricity generation occurred during testing earlier this week. The NOVEC Energy Production plant near South Boston also connected to the PJM regional electric transmission grid.

Wild Horses to be Further Restricted

The Currituck National Wildlife Refuge says it plans to string more than 15,000 feet of barbed wire fence to keep wild horses from grazing where wildlife feed.

The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reports that federal officials have requested bids to extend fencing in the 4,500-acre refuge from the dunes to the marsh. The move would effectively block the herd's access to a large section of the refuge. Bids are due this week. More than 100 acres already are enclosed by an electric fence. The barbed wire fence would extend the barrier from ocean to sound.