USDA Approves Drought Disaster Declaration for USVI, Opening Emergency Loans to Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John as primary natural disaster areas because of prolonged drought, making eligible Virgin Islands farmers and agricultural producers able to apply for federal emergency loans to recover from qualifying losses. Governor Albert Bryan Jr., who announced the approval Friday, was notified by USDA on August 20 that the three islands had received the Secretarial drought disaster designation based on conditions documented by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Mr. Bryan formally requested the declaration earlier this month as persistent dry conditions placed increasing pressure on the territory’s agricultural sector, particularly livestock producers. “Our farmers are essential to our food security, our economy and our way of life, and when they are hurting, we have an obligation to do everything we can to help,” Governor Bryan said. “That is why I asked the Department of Agriculture to issue this declaration, and I am gr...