The governor's office said Thursday that the designation is in response to Gov. Sonny Perdue's request last month.

Perdue says Georgia farmers have "significant economic losses due to the dry conditions in Georgia," and he is pleased that financial relief will be made available.

Twelve counties were named as contiguous disaster areas: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Bulloch, Camden, Coffee, Glynn, Liberty, Long, Terrell, Ware, and Wayne.

The only county not covered by either designation is McIntosh