by Chris Davis
WASHINGTON, D.C.--It’s part of the worst drought in a quarter century putting Mississippi on the national map today.

Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack says 10 counties ...in our state can get federal assistance due to the drought that plagued us before two weeks of rainfall. Those counties- DeSoto, Coahoma, Panola, Lafayette, Tallahatchie, Marshall, Quitman, Tate, Tunica and Yalobusha.

Vilsack said Mississippi is part of a historic drought, not seen for over a quarter century.

"One thousand, two hundred ninety-seven counties have been designated as secretarial disaster areas. That's approximately a third of the counties in the United States," he said.

Thirty-nine counties in eight states were added to the list Wednesday. Vilsack says the potential economic impact could be devastating.

"Thirty-eight percent of our corn crop today is rated poor to very poor. Thirty percent of our soybean crop is poor to very poor."

Mississippi farmers in the affected areas have eight months to apply for the federal aid.