Direct growers suffering from the ongoing drought can now apply to the USDA for help.
Numerous counties across the country have been designated as primary natural disaster areas by the USDA, meaning the Farm Service Agency (FSA) has been authorized to provide emergency loans to producers.
According to the FSA, credit will be granted depending on the extent of losses suffered, the availability of collateral and the ability of producers to repay.
Emergency loans can be used to cover the cost of replacing equipment or livestock, restructuring a farm, or refinancing some debt.
The declarations cover large parts of Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma, as well as counties in other states such as Maine, New Hampshire and New York. Determinations of drought are made on the basis of US Drought Monitor websitewhich is updated weekly.
Different counties — and neighboring counties that are eligible for FSA loans — have different application deadlines.
Beginners who are interested in applying for the loans or have any questions can use the The USDA’s online tool will find your local service center.
What follows is a partial list of counties where no-tillers are eligible for emergency loans announced Nov. 4. Other counties may be eligible based on previous declarations.
Iowa:
No-tillers in Appanoose, Davis, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello and Washington counties have until May 19 to apply for emergency loans.
No-tillers in Harrison, Humboldt and Kossuth counties have until May 26 to apply for emergency loans.
No-tillers in Clarke, Iowa, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Polk, Poweshiek, Union and Warren counties have until June 5 to apply for emergency loans.
Kansas:
No-tillers in Greenwood County, Kansas have until May 26 to apply for emergency loans. This declaration covers the surrounding counties of Butler, Woodson, Chase, Elk and Wilson.
No-tillers in Anderson, Coffee, Johnson, Linn, Lyon and Wyandotte counties have until June 12 to apply for emergency loans.
Minnesota:
No-tillers in Anoka County and the surrounding counties of Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne and Washington have until May 26 to apply for emergency loans.
Missouri:
No-tillers in Boone, Cooper, Howard and Moniteau counties have until June 5 to apply for emergency loans.
No-tillers in Bates, Carroll, Cass, Clay and Ray counties have until June 12 to apply for emergency loans.
Montana:
No-tillers in Dawson and Prairie counties have until June 5 to apply. This statement covers Custer, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Richland and Wibaux counties.
Nebraska:
Washington County no-tillers have until May 26 to apply for emergency loans. This declaration includes Burt and Dodge counties.
No-tillers in Butler, Dawes, Douglas and Saunders counties are eligible for emergency loans until June 5.
Ohio:
No-tillers in Brown and Clermont counties are eligible for emergency loans until May 29. This declaration covers Adams, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland and Warren counties in Ohio and Bracken, Campbell, Mason and Pendleton counties in Kentucky.
Oklahoma:
Sequoyah County no-tillers have until May 19 to apply for emergency loans. This statement covers Adair, Cherokee, Haskell, Le Flore and Muskogee counties in Oklahoma, and Crawford and Sebastian counties in Arkansas.
South Dakota:
No-tillers in Beadle, Jerauld, Kingsbury and Sanborn counties have until June 12 to apply for emergency loans. This statement covers Aurora, Brookings, Brule, Buffalo, Clark, Davison, Hamlin, Hand, Hanson, Like, Miner and Spink counties.
Related content:
The drought in dry areas continues
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