By Blake Jackson
A Presidential disaster declaration has enabled the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to offer emergency loans to agricultural producers in Pennsylvania affected by Tropical Storm Debby.
This storm, which struck from August 9 to August 10, 2024, caused significant damage, prompting the need for recovery assistance.
The emergency loans are designed to help farmers and ranchers replace essential items, such as equipment and livestock, and support the reorganization of farming operations.
These loans can also be used to refinance specific debts, providing critical relief as producers work to recover. The FSA will evaluate each loan application based on the extent of the losses, the security available, and the applicant’s ability to repay.
The application deadline for these emergency loans is July 8, 2025. In addition to Pennsylvania, several contiguous counties are eligible for assistance, including Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Forest, Jefferson, Lackawanna, and Luzerne.
Farmers in the impacted areas are encouraged to visit farmers.gov, where the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, the Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and the Loan Assistance Tool can help determine eligibility for various programs.
To file a Notice of Loss or ask questions, producers should reach out to their local USDA Service Center.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy, Weather