59 North Carolina counties, including New Hanover, Bladen, Brunswick, Pender and Columbus counties are now designated disaster areas.
Excessive amounts of crops have been lost due to this year's drought and extreme heat.
Governor Easley requested that parts of the state be considered disaster areas to help financially assist North Carolina farmers that have suffered from drought related crop loses two years in a row.
Easley is still asking people to conserve water because many counties are still facing severe drought.
![farm150.jpg]( "farm150.jpg")
