The U.S. Agriculture Department on Tuesday declared Amador and Calaveras counties primary disaster areas. This will now make local farmers and ranchers eligible for low-interest emergency loans. The USDA said Amador and Calaveras counties both experienced unseasonably cold temperatures combined with drought like conditions this year. This move by the USDA also makes six additional counties in California also eligible for assistance because they are close to the primary disaster areas, Amador and Calaveras Counties. The USDA's Farm Service Agency said farmers have eight months to apply for emergency loans to help cover part of the financial loss of their crops. Each loan application will be reviewed based on the extent of losses and the ability to repay the loan, the agency said.