Nearly all of Idaho affected by natural disaster

BOISE (AP) - Federal officials say more than 90 percent of Idaho's counties have either been declared natural disaster areas or are bordering disaster areas because of prolonged drought.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Benewah, Bonner, Clearwater, Kootenai and Latah counties as the most recent regions to qualify as primary natural disaster areas.

The declaration means farmers and ranchers in those counties are eligible to apply for low-interest federal emergency loans. Eligibility is open for eight months from the date of the declaration.

Jeff Mitchell with the USDA's Farm Service Agency said it's unprecedented for nearly all of the state to be designated a natural disaster because of a drought.

The agency also designated a handful of contiguous counties in Washington and Montana along North Idaho's borders to qualify for emergency loans.