Farmers in Flathead and Lake counties are eligible for financial assistance for crop losses after the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared Lake County a primary disaster area Thursday.

A news release from Gov. Steve Bullock’s office stated the declaration was due to extreme drought and weather including frost, hail and high winds.

The designation requires crop production losses of 30 percent or greater and allows farmers and ranchers in the designated areas to receive financial assistance from the Farm Service Agency.

Several counties, including Flathead, did not reach the 30 percent threshold, but were declared “contiguous disaster areas.” Farmers and ranchers in those counties can still obtain emergency loans through the agency.

The agriculture department also designated Hill County as a primary disaster area. The other contiguous disaster areas are Missoula, Sanders, Blaine, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

Those affected can apply for federal emergency money by visiting disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

While significant precipitation has helped out much of Western Montana, more than half of the state still remains at least “abnormally dry,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

A third of Montana remains in a drought, including about 3.5 percent classified as “extreme drought.” That area is primarily located in Lake, Flathead, Sanders and Missoula counties.

Since Jan. 1, the Flathead Valley has received 10.38 inches of precipitation, compared with an average 16.25 inches by this point in the year.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.