WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved four Maine counties to be declared primary natural disaster areas, making farmers in Aroostook, Franklin, Oxford and Penobscot counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency.

The disaster declaration is based on submitted damage assessment reports provided by each county detailing the excessive rain that occurred in the summer and fall of 2003, which contributed to losses in agricultural products within the regions.

Additionally, the following Maine counties were declared contiguous disaster areas, making them also eligible to be considered for the low-interest emergency loans from FSA: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, Washington and York counties.

“The excessive rain season and detrimental winter experienced in 2003 devastated the viability of the agricultural products that farm operators rely on for their livelihood,” said U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe in announcing the declaration. “The financial assistance these low-interest loans provide serves as a vital tool for preventing further economic hardship caused by unpredictable weather.”