Barnes County is one of 16 in the state that have been declared an agricultural disaster by the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this week.
David Shea, of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency office in Valley City, said the declaration is based on the county’s drought level and drought conditions, and opens the door for area farmers to apply for low-interest loans through the FSA’s farm loan program.
“They’re eligible for emergency loans but they have to qualify for them,” Shea said.
