Moore County is not among the 59 North Carolina counties designated as disaster areas because of drought-related crop damage, but it is affected as one of 37 counties contiguous to disaster areas.

Gov. Mike Easley announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had granted his request for the disaster designation in 59 counties. Easley had asked for the special designation because drought and extreme heat earlier this year resulted in significant losses on corn, soybean, hay, pasture and other forage crops.

"While most parts of the state have now recovered from the drought, that does not change the fact that many of our farmers suffered crop losses due to drought for two straight years, and they need help to recover," Easley said.

Easley also called on residents to continue water conservation efforts, especially in the western counties, which have not experienced the recovery enjoyed in other parts of North Carolina.

Other area counties designated as contiguous to the disaster area include Anson, Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Montgomery, Randolph and Richmond.

ELIGIBLE -- The disaster designation makes farm operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible for consideration for assistance through the U.S. Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Assistance includes low interest emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program approved as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

Farmers are advised to notify the Farm Service Agency office for more information. The local office is the Moore-Montgomery FSA located in the Moore County Agriculture Center in Carthage.

DEMOCRATS -- The Moore County Democratic Party will hold an executive committee meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at party headquarters, 104 N. McNeill St. in Carthage.

Party Chairman Brian Deaton said the meeting has been called to review election results, discuss renewal of the lease for headquarters space and plan procedures for election of county officers at the county convention in April.

Deaton said all registered Democrats and interested independents are invited to attend. Anyone wanting more information can call Deaton at 295-9111.

COBLE -- Congressman Howard Coble is staying busy with Veterans Day appearances this week.

Coble attended Veterans Day programs in Greensboro and High Point, then addressed Teenage Republicans in High Point, all on Monday. Earlier in the day he met with constituents who already had appointments in his Greensboro office.

On Tuesday, he spoke at two Veterans Day programs in Greensboro and another program in High Point and addressed the Friends Home Men's Group in Greensboro.

Coble was to attend a preview of the High Point Museum this (Wednesday) morning. His schedule today also includes attendance at the Hanes-Lineberry Community Celebration, the ribbon cutting at the new Tennis and Health Center and the Appalachian State University Alumni program, all in Greensboro. He will be the speaker for the Citadel University alumni dinner in Greensboro tonight.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.