By Andi Anderson
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has declared five Ohio counties as primary natural disaster areas due to drought conditions.
This designation allows farm operators in the affected counties and their neighboring areas to access emergency loans through the FSA to aid in recovery efforts.
Farmers in both primary and contiguous counties are eligible for assistance to replace essential items like equipment, livestock, reorganize farming operations, or refinance certain debts.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties experienced significant drought conditions during the growing season. Specifically, counties were impacted by D2 Severe Drought for at least eight consecutive weeks or by more extreme drought levels, such as D3 (Extreme) or D4 (Exceptional). This triggering event has allowed the USDA to extend emergency credit assistance.
Primary counties eligible for disaster loans include Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, and Williams counties in Ohio. In addition, contiguous counties in Ohio (Hancock, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, and Wood), Indiana (Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben), and Michigan (Hillsdale, Lenawee, and Monroe) are also eligible for this assistance.
Farmers have until June 16, 2025, to apply for these loans. FSA will review applications based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment ability.
This financial support is designed to help farmers recover from drought-related challenges and maintain the viability of their farming operations.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Ohio, General