This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.
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USDA Designates 22 Texas Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for 8 or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional.

Impacted Area: Texas

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast Track)

Application Deadline: April 29, 2024

Primary Counties Eligible:

Anderson Bee Brazos Burleson
Cherokee Crane Dallas DeWitt
Grimes Hood Houston Johnson
Karnes Leon Live Oak McMullen
Madison Reagan Somervell Upton
Waller Ward

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Angelina Atascosa Austin Bosque
Collin Crockett Denton Duval
Ector Ellis Erath Fort Bend
Freestone Glasscock Goliad Gonzales
Harris Henderson Hill Irion
Jim Wells Kaufman La Salle Lavaca
Lee Limestone Loving Midland
Milam Montgomery Nacogdoches Palo Pinto
Parker Pecos Reeves Refugio
Robertson Rockwall Rusk San Patricio
Smith Sterling Tarrant Tom Green
Trinity Victoria Walker Washington
Webb Wilson Winkler

More Resources

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery ToolDisaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.

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