By Jamie Martin
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently declared five counties in California as natural disaster areas following destructive wildfires and severe straight-line winds.
The primary county affected is Los Angeles, while Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties are also eligible for emergency assistance.
Following this declaration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering emergency loans to help impacted farmers recover.
Farmers can use these loans for critical expenses, including replacing essential equipment or livestock lost during the disaster, restructuring their farm operations, or refinancing certain debts.
Each loan application is reviewed individually by the FSA, which assesses the level of damage, available security, and the borrower's ability to repay. Farmers have until September 8, 2025, to apply for this financial assistance.
To simplify the application process, the USDA provides helpful resources online at farmers.gov. These resources include the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, the Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and the Loan Assistance Tool, which guide farmers in choosing the best support options available.
Farmers who have experienced losses should promptly report them by contacting their local USDA Service Center, which can help determine eligibility and guide them through available assistance programs.
Additionally, FEMA offers various support programs specifically for individuals, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations affected by disasters. To find out more about FEMA's support programs, individuals and organizations can visit fema.gov/assistance.
"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," according to USDA officials.
Through these emergency loans, the USDA and FEMA collaborate to ensure farmers receive essential support, enabling communities to recover and rebuild effectively after devastating wildfires.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: National