 The federal government's stepping in to help area farmers dealing with crop damage or loss as a result of dry conditions. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has declared a natural disaster in the state of North Carolina. Columbus County blueberry farmer John Morris tells WWAY. Our harvest is done, so we're glad to be through that. But we've pruned all of our plants pretty aggressively after we were done harvesting, so this is our best time for new growth for plants, which shuts up a better production for next season.