Culpeper listed as disaster area

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday offcially designated Culpeper County as a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by the major snowstorm in December.

Orange, Madison and Spotsylvania counties also were among the 31 counties and nine independent cities so designated.

Farmers in any of the designated areas or contiguous counties or cities who sustained losses as a result of the storm may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans. They have eight months to apply.

The designation is not applicable to losses sustained in last month’s snowstorm.

Contact your local USDA office or visit fsa.usda.gov for details.