By Blake Jackson
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced a Secretarial natural disaster designation for parts of Kentucky, making emergency loans available to farmers and ranchers affected by recent flooding. This designation provides critical financial assistance to help producers recover from losses and restore their operations.
Emergency loans can be used for a range of recovery purposes, including replacing essential equipment or livestock, reorganizing a farming business, or refinancing specific debts.
Loan applications will be reviewed by the FSA based on factors such as the extent of damage, available collateral, and the applicant’s repayment capacity.
The disaster designation (S6015: Flooding) applies to Monroe County, Kentucky, as the primary eligible area. Farmers in the contiguous counties of Allen, Barren, Cumberland, and Metcalfe are also eligible for assistance. The application deadline for these loans is March 16, 2026.
Producers are encouraged to explore resources available on farmers.gov, including the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool, to determine their eligibility and program options.
For further guidance, or to file a Notice of Loss, affected producers should contact their local USDA Service Center for personalized assistance.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-jj-gouin
Categories: Kentucky, General, Government & Policy