Three Alabama counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas by USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack due to the recent drought.

Farmers in Dallas, Perry and Wilcox Counties have until May to apply for emergency loans as a result of the declaration, according to the USDA website.

Farmers from nine nearby counties, Autauga, Bibb, Butler, Chilton, Clark, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo and Monroe, are also eligible to apply as contiguous counties, according to Vilsack’s designation.

All twelve of these counties experienced severe drought or a higher designation on the U.S. Drought Monitor for eight weeks or more during the growing season.

“The drought hit famers in this part of the state during the peak of growing season. We hope this disaster relief from USDA will ease some of the financial burdens,” Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate said in an announcement earlier this week.

“We encourage farmers to reach out to their local USDA offices for details about available funding.”