All eight counties in Connecticut have received disaster declarations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a result of ongoing drought conditions.
Governor Ned Lamont says the designation means farmers are eligible to apply for disaster assistance from the Farm Service Agency, such as emergency loans.
The impact of drought has been widespread in the state, as producers worked to keep fields irrigated, hauled in water when wells went dry, and experienced significant losses of food production and livestock crops Hartford, New London, Tolland, and Windham are now in Stage 3 drought status.
State officials say Middlesex and Litchfield counties remain at Stage 2, while Fairfield and New Haven remain at Stage 1.
