Farmers and ranchers across parts of Oklahoma and Kansas who are recovering from harsh drought conditions now have access to emergency credit through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA).
The relief comes after a Secretarial natural disaster designation was triggered due to severe and extreme drought conditions during the growing season. Under USDA criteria, the designated counties experienced at least eight consecutive weeks of D2 (Severe Drought) or reached D3 (Extreme) to D4 (Exceptional) drought levels.
Key Program Details
- Triggering Event: Drought fast-track designation
- Application Deadline: March 10, 2027
- Primary Eligible County: Woods County, Oklahoma
- Contiguous Eligible Counties (Oklahoma): Alfalfa, Harper, Major, and Woodward
- Contiguous Eligible Counties (Kansas): Barber and Comanche
How Emergency Loans Can Help
Emergency loans provided through the FSA are designed to help agricultural producers overcome financial hurdles caused by the drought. Eligible producers can use these funds to cover critical recovery needs, including:
- Replacing essential farm equipment or livestock lost to the disaster
- Reorganizing farming operations to adapt to current conditions
- Refinancing specific existing agricultural debts
To determine loan eligibility and amounts, the FSA evaluates applications based on the extent of physical or production losses, available security, and the producer’s overall repayment ability.
Finding Assistance and How to Apply
Producers looking to explore their options or start an application can use several online resources available at farmers.gov, including the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, the Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and the Loan Assistance Tool.
To file an official Notice of Loss or speak directly with a representative about available relief programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.
