Wednesday, June 19, 2013
USDA names Hawaii, Maui counties drought zones
POSTED: 10:56 a.m. HST, Jan 09, 2013
LAST UPDATED: 10:57 a.m. HST, Jan 09, 2013
KAILUA-KONA » The U.S. Agriculture Department has designated Hawaii and Maui counties as disaster areas because of at least eight straight weeks of severe drought.
The designation announced today means farmers in those areas qualify for low-interest emergency loans.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack included the two Hawaii counties in a list of nearly 600 counties in 14 states also declared disaster zones.
The designations are the first this year.
Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties all made the list last year.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows portions of the Big Island and Maui with extreme drought as of New Year's Day.
Rain does little to ease drought
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