By Blake Jackson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a natural disaster designation for drought-affected counties in Kentucky, making emergency loans available through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to help farmers recover from agricultural losses.
The designation allows eligible agricultural producers to access emergency credit for essential recovery expenses, including replacing damaged or lost equipment and livestock, reorganizing farming operations, and refinancing certain existing debts.
The FSA will evaluate applications based on the extent of losses, available collateral, and the applicant's ability to repay the loan.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, eligible counties experienced severe drought (D2) for at least eight consecutive weeks or extreme (D3) to exceptional (D4) drought conditions during the growing season.
The designation covers Allen, Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Simpson, Todd, and Trigg counties. Fourteen contiguous Kentucky counties are also eligible for assistance.
The triggering disaster, S6232, is classified as fast-track drought beginning April 21, 2026. The deadline to submit emergency loan applications is June 21, 2027.
Producers seeking assistance or information about available programs should contact their local USDA Service Center to file a Notice of Loss or discuss eligibility requirements.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: Kentucky, Government & Policy