Hailey
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially classified two counties in Southwest Kansas and two counties in the Oklahoma Panhandle as Primary Natural Disaster Areas due to the prolonged impact of severe drought conditions.
This designation opens the door for vital financial assistance to farmers and ranchers in the region.
Access to USDA Emergency Loans for Affected Farmers
With this Secretarial Disaster Designation, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is authorized to provide emergency loans to agricultural producers who have suffered significant losses. These loans are designed to assist with:
- Replacing critical assets such as farm equipment or livestock
- Reorganizing farming operations for better sustainability
- Refinancing existing agricultural debt that has become unmanageable due to disaster-related setbacks
Loan applications will be evaluated based on the severity of losses, available collateral, and the farmer’s ability to repay the loan.
Drought Severity Triggered the Declaration
The USDA’s decision is grounded in data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, which revealed that the designated areas experienced:
- D2 (Severe Drought) conditions for eight or more consecutive weeks, or
- D3 (Extreme Drought) or D4 (Exceptional Drought) levels during the growing season
These drought conditions have had a devastating effect on agricultural productivity in the region.
Counties Eligible for USDA Assistance
In Kansas:
- Primary Designated Counties:
- Meade County
- Clark County
- Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:
- Comanche
- Ford
- Gray
- Haskell
- Kiowa
- Seward
In Oklahoma:
- Primary Designated Counties:
- Beaver County
- Harper County
These areas are now qualified to apply for USDA emergency aid to help recover and rebuild agricultural operations impacted by ongoing drought conditions.
The USDA’s disaster declaration provides a critical financial lifeline to farmers and ranchers in Southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle who are grappling with severe drought impacts.
Eligible producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA offices to explore loan options, understand eligibility criteria, and begin the application process for timely disaster recovery assistance.