By Blake Jackson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Carroll, Howard, and Montgomery counties in Maryland as natural disaster areas due to severe drought conditions experienced during the growing season.
This classification allows farmers in these counties, along with producers in eligible surrounding regions, to apply for emergency loans through the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
This designation also includes Adams and York counties in Pennsylvania, along with neighboring counties in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, which are considered contiguous disaster areas. Farmers in these areas are now eligible to apply for emergency credit support.
Emergency loans from FSA are intended to help farmers recover from natural disasters. These loans may be used for replacing equipment or livestock, reorganizing operations, or refinancing existing debt.
The USDA will assess each application based on the level of damage, repayment ability, and available collateral.
The decision follows findings by the U.S. Drought Monitor, which showed that the affected counties experienced D2 (Severe Drought) for 8 consecutive weeks or more, or even D3 (Extreme) or D4 (Exceptional Drought) conditions.
The application deadline for emergency assistance is January 6, 2026. Producers are encouraged to act quickly and reach out to their local USDA Service Center to learn about their options and file a Notice of Loss.
Useful resources like the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Loan Assistance Tool, and fact sheets are available at farmers.gov to help farmers understand their eligibility.
“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,” stated the USDA.
Farmers are encouraged to explore all available programs and tools to ensure a smooth recovery process.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy