PRESS RELEASE
South Carolina Office of the Governor
David M. Beasley - Governor
For Immediate Release:  July 24, 1998
Contact:  Gary Karr (803) 734-9840
 
GOVERNOR ASKS FOR DISASTER DECLARATION

   (Columbia)-- Governor David M. Beasley today asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to declare all of South Carolina a natural disaster because of the drought.
 “I hope Secretary Glickman will move quickly, because farmers across the state need help,” Governor Beasley said. “It is clear that South Carolina farms meet the threshold required to get federal assistance.”
 Crops across the state are suffering at least a 30 percent loss, the amount needed to ask for disaster assistance. A disaster declaration would enable farmers to get low-interest emergency loans. Farmers would apply to their local Farm Service Agency office if Secretary Glickman issues the disaster declaration.
 Congress is now debating additional assistance that may be given to farmers in states that have suffered droughts.
 The Governor, along with Glickman and U.S. Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, visited farms in Richland, Sumter and Darlington counties on Monday. “From what I saw, and what I am hearing from farmers across the state, this is one of the worst droughts I have seen in my lifetime,” the Governor said.
 Corn, cotton and soybeans are suffering the worst damage, the Governor said.
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