USDA Designates Faribault, Le Sueur, and Rice Counties in Minnesota as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

Numerous Minnesota Counties Designated as Contiguous Areas Due to Drought in Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota

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: Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota

Triggering Disaster 1: Drought Fast Track S5545

Application Deadline: 5/20/2024

Primary Counties Eligible: Faribault, Le Sueur, Rice

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Minnesota: Blue Earth, Dakota, Dodge, Freeborn, Goodhue, Martin, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley, Steele, Waseca

Iowa: Kossuth, Winnebago

Triggering Disaster 2: Drought Fast Track S5543

Application Deadline: 5/20/2024

Primary Iowa Counties Eligible: Winnebago

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Iowa: Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Kossuth, Worth

Minnesota: Faribault, Freeborn

Triggering Disaster 3: Drought Fast Track S5547

Application Deadline: 5/20/2024

Primary South Dakota Counties Eligible: Brookings, Grant, Roberts

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Minnesota: Big Stone, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Pipestone, Traverse

North Dakota: Richland, Sargent

South Dakota: Codington, Day, Deuel, Hamlin, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, Moody

More Resources

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster 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.