"The secretary's disaster designation means local farmers who meet certain eligibility requirements will be able to apply for low-interest, emergency loans from the federal Farm Service agency," U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said in a news release this morning.

"These loans will greatly help our hard-working farmers, who, due to no fault of their own, are in need of a helping hand."

Secretary Mike Johanns issued the disaster designation after a department review concluded that production losses warranted a disaster designation.

The declaration will make available low-interest federal loans to farmers and ranchers who have suffered losses due to the long dry spell since Jan. 1, 2007, and which have continued, a news release from Gov. Linda Lingle's office said. The disaster loans have a 3.75 percent interest rate, which is much lower than current conventional loans.

"The current drought conditions are being compounded in some areas by severe damage to key irrigation systems from last October's earthquakes," Lingle said in the release. "The availability of low-interest loans will help to sustain agricultural operations through this dry spell."

Lingle requested the federal disaster designation on June 15, 2007.

Farmers and ranchers may apply immediately for the disaster loans at their county Farm Service Agency office, according to the release.

County FSA offices may be contacted at:

Hawai'i – 808-933-8381

Maui – 808-244-3100

O'ahu – 483-8600

Kaua'i – 808-245-9014