The Maui News - Ongoing dry conditions have led to the designation of Maui County—and the rest of the state—as federal disaster areas by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer, Hawai‘i U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka announced on Friday, Aug. 1. “Our local farmers are hurting,” said Inouye, pointing out that Maui sugar operations have been cut back because of the dry weather. “The emergency, low-interest loans that will now be available can be a lifeline for Hawai‘i farmers.” The disaster declaration opens the process for Hawai‘i farmers who meet eligibility requirements to seek low-interest loans from the U.S. Farm Service Agency to offset drought-related crop losses. Eligible producers may borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses, not to exceed a total of $500,000. “We’re excited about it. We feel it will help all of our farmers,” said Warren Watanabe, executive director of the Maui Farm Bureau. The bureau is making sure farmers are aware of the program and that they enroll if need be, he said. Watanabe said recent rains have helped farmers, “but I think most of the farmers are struggling along.”