MADISON (AP) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 31 counties in Wisconsin as primary natural-disaster areas following droughts that have persisted since March 1.

The designation announced Sept. 30 allows eligible farmers to apply for low-interest emergency loans to cover their losses.

The counties are Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marinette, Oconto, Oneida, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas, Washburn and Waupaca counties.

Farmers who live in adjacent counties are also eligible to apply. That includes 16 counties in Wisconsin, eight in Minnesota and four in Michigan.

The other counties eligible to apply for natural-disaster assistance are:

- Wisconsin: Adams, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Clark, Jackson, La Crosse, Marathon, Menominee, Outagamie, Pierce, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood counties

- Minnesota: Carlton, Chisago, Goodhue, Pine, St. Louis, Wabasha, Washington and Winona counties

- Michigan: Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron, Menominee counties