VIDALIA — Farmers in 42 parishes in the state, including Concordia, may be eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency low-interest emergency loans due to the drought that occurred this year in Louisiana.

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain said the drought that occurred from March 23 through October caused a lower yield for many farmers around the state.

“Many of our crops that were doing well were in irrigated areas,” he said. “The heat we had this year caused a loss to many soybean crops at a high level.”

Strain said cattle farmers throughout the state also suffered due to the lack of rain.

“We had a hay-lift to bring fresh hay to farmers in northern Louisiana,” he said. “Farmers in the southern part of the state donated and shipped hay to these farmers in the north.”

With a the heat and lack of rain causing a number of problems for farmers, Strain said the declaration from the USDA should be taken advantage of by all area farmers.

“I highly recommend farmers use this tool,” he said. “If you miss the deadline, you can not get any assistance.”

Strain said farmers have eight months from the day the declaration was passed, which was Nov. 30, to apply for assistance.

“Farmers just need to go to their local Farm Service Agency, and most of our farmers have a good relationship with their agency,” he said. “I recommend that they go in the next couple of months.”

Strain also said farmers who are eligible can apply for support through the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program, which is a part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

“Not only can they receive help from the USDA, but they can also receive disaster payments from the SURE program,” he said.

Strain said the SURE program is not something farmers should participate in only during disasters.

“Farmers need to make sure they sign up for the program during periods of the year when they can,” he said. “If they fail to do so they may not be able to participate in them in the future.”