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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH, AP) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture says farmers in 43 of South Carolina's 46 counties are eligible for low-interest emergency loans to cover losses from natural disasters caused by drought, extreme heat and insect infestations.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a release Wednesday the designation gives farmers the opportunity to apply for aid to cover losses suffered since May of last year.

Counties that qualify include:

Abbeville            Chester               Greenville           Marion                Richland
Aiken                 Chesterfield         Greenwood        Marlboro             Saluda
Allendale            Clarendon           Horry                 McCormick         Spartanburg
Anderson            Darlington          Kershaw             Newberry            Sumter
Bamberg             Dillon                 Lancaster            Oconee               Union
Barnwell             Edgefield            Laurens               Orangeburg         Williamsburg
Calhoun              Fairfield              Lee                     Pickens               York
Cherokee            Florence            Lexington

The counties not included are Beaufort, Charleston and Jasper. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months to apply for loans to cover part of their actual losses.

The release said farmers in 16 North Carolina counties and 11 counties in Georgia also can apply for the loans because they are located next to eligible counties in South Carolina.

Read a letter from the Department of Agriculture regarding agricultural disaster designations.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)