Beaufort County and Martin County are among the counties in which family farmers may be eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loan assistance.

On April 21, President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in North Carolina, based on losses caused by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred April 16.

Paula Nicholls, an FSA senior farm-loan officer, said farmers in Beaufort and Martin counties who suffered physical and production losses may apply for emergency loans. Dec. 21 is the deadline for filing an application for such a loan. The local FSA office is located at 155-B Airport Road, Washington. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The office’s phone number is 252-946-1076.