Governor Nathan Deal has asked the federal government to declare 22 counties disaster areas because of drought conditions.

Deal made the request in a letter sent last week to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Deal said the drought, beginning in December, has caused extensive damage to crops.

A disaster designation would allow farmers in those counties to apply for emergency loans and other benefits.

Deal wrote that the USDA State Emergency Board has reviewed loss adjustment reports prepared by the affected counties. They confirmed the losses and recommended the disaster designation be requested for the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Chatham, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Dodge, Effingham, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Telfair, Thomas, Wayne and Wheeler.

Tags: Georgia, agriculture, drought, South Georgia, middle Georgia, Federal Disaster Declaration, Governor Nathan Deal, crop damage