Polk is one of eight Georgia counties whose farmers will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its Emergency Conservation Program. Chattooga and Floyd counties also will be receiving money.

The total funding for the eight counties is $504,500.

U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Marietta) announced the funding, which is in response to Georgia's severe drought.

"Northwest Georgia has been devastated by the ongoing water shortage, which has done particular damage to our farmers and growers," said Gingrey. "I am happy to announce that farmers in Chattooga, Floyd and Polk counties will be eligible to get some relief from the federal government to help them cope with challenges they continue to face on their land."

The program gives money for farmers to remove debris from farmland, restore fences and conservation structures, provide water for livestock in drought situations and grade and shape farmland damaged by a natural disaster. USDA Farm Service Agency state and county committees administer ECP.

Eligible producers will receive cost-share assistance of up to 75 percent of the cost of the approved practice, as determined by FSA county committees.

For land to be eligible, drought must have caused new conservation problems that, if untreated, would impair or endanger the land and affect its productive capacity. Conservation problems existing prior to the drought are ineligible for ECP assistance.

Farmers should contact the local Farm Service Agency office to apply for funding.

Click here for contact information for local FSA offices.