The U.S. Department of Agriculture officially declared all 82 counties in Mississippi federal disaster areas. The designation, stemming from insufficient rainfall and extreme summer temperatures, makes all family-sized farmers eligible for consideration for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency.

Local agricultural agencies, including the Adams County branch of the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Resource Conservation Service, rural development and county extension offices, have petitioned Washington, D.C., for months for the designation.

&uot;Through the assessment, they determined the obvious: There was a problem,&uot; Don Smith, Adams County agricultural agent, said.

Last week’s announcement marks the second consecutive year the state has been declared a disaster area, Smith said.

&uot;The drought has cut across all agricultural commodity lines,&uot; he said of extensive damage to local livestock and row crop staples, such as soybeans and cotton.

Smith said he is unsure how the emergency funds will be allocated and just what it will mean to local farmers.

Bryan Stringer, USDA Soil Conservation Service, also said it remains unclear what agricultural divisions will be included in the federal aid. As of yet, livestock is the only commodity to be specified by Congress.

&uot;It remains to be seen what kind of assistance will be available,&uot; Stringer said, adding emergency water supplies are possible.

Stacy McKay, Adams County USDA Farm Service, said Congress is currently considering additional legislation, and more news could come at any time. &uot;I check my e-mail all the time, but I haven’t got anything yet,&uot; he said.