The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has designated twelve counties in Pennsylvania as primary natural disaster areas due to drought conditions that occurred during various periods in 2022. This designation enables the FSA to provide emergency credit in the form of loans to assist producers in their recovery efforts. Emergency loans can be utilized for a range of purposes, including replacing essential equipment and livestock, restructuring farming operations, or refinancing certain debts. The eligibility for these loans is determined based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment capacity.
The impacted counties vary across the triggering disasters, with Berks, Bucks, and Montgomery being eligible for Disaster 1, while Bradford and Sullivan are eligible for Disaster 2. Lycoming is the primary county for Disaster 3, and Northumberland for Disaster 4. Lackawanna and Wayne are affected by Disaster 5, and Columbia and Montour by Disaster 6. Lastly, Cumberland is the primary county for Disaster 7. Several contiguous counties are also eligible for assistance in each case.
Farmers in the designated areas are encouraged to take advantage of the resources available through the USDA, such as the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool and the Farm Loan Discovery Tool, which can help them explore program and loan options. To report losses or inquire about available programs, individuals can reach out to their local USDA Service Center.
The USDA remains committed to supporting producers in their recovery and acknowledges the importance of providing equal opportunities to all individuals. By extending emergency credit, the USDA aims to assist Pennsylvania producers in overcoming the challenges posed by the drought and rebuilding their agricultural operations.
Photo Credit: science-photo-library-igor-stevanovic
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Weather