Derecho Relief Declared For Nelson County Farmers

Nelson County is one of a growing list of localities to receive a primary disaster declaration from the Virginia Department of Agriculture. The designation given last week, stems from damages caused by excessive rain, hail, lightening and high winds associated with June’s derecho. Amherst and Appomattox are among fourteen counties and a city now labeled contiguous disaster areas because they border at least one of the counties named a primary disaster area. These disaster designations make farm operators eligible for assistance from the federal Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply.