Farmers in Suffolk and Isle of Wight County now are able to receive disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans after the two localities were designated agricultural disaster areas.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced the designation Tuesday. The decision was made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture based on a number of weather issues the area confronted last year, including excessive heat, high humidity, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

The disaster designation makes farmers eligible for assistance from the federal Farm Service Agency, including emergency loans.

“I am grateful that the USDA has declared these areas eligible for federal assistance,” said Matthew J. Lohr, commissioner for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “This part of the state was hit hard by an array of natural disasters lasting for more than seven months. I am certain farmers will appreciate any assistance they can get.”

Local Extension agents estimated a 40-percent loss in the 2011 cotton crop for Suffolk, equaling about $5 million in monetary losses.

Only a 30-percent loss in a single major crop is required to qualify for the designation.

Additional losses were estimated at 20 percent for corn and 5 percent for soybeans, totaling about $857,000 in losses.

In addition, James City, Southampton and Surry counties and the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Newport News and Portsmouth received contiguous disaster declarations because they border either Suffolk or Isle of Wight County. The designation makes farmers in those areas eligible for the same assistance.

Farmers in eligible areas have eight months from the disaster declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance. Each loan application takes into account the extent of production losses, security available and repayment ability.