The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a Secretarial natural disaster designation, enabling the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to provide emergency credit to producers recovering from persistent drought conditions.
Through FSA emergency loans, eligible producers can access vital capital to support recovery efforts. These funds may be used to cover various operational needs, including replacing essential items such as livestock or equipment, reorganizing farming operations, or refinancing eligible debts. FSA evaluates loan applications individually based on the extent of disaster losses, available security, and the producer’s repayment capacity.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the fast-track designation was triggered after primary counties met specific drought intensity thresholds during the growing season: experiencing either D2 Severe Drought for eight or more consecutive weeks, or reaching D3 Extreme Drought or D4 Exceptional Drought levels.
Disaster Details and Eligibility
- Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track)
- Impacted State: Texas
- Application Deadline: March 10, 2027
Primary Texas Counties Eligible: Castro, Collingsworth, Deaf Smith, Hartley, Oldham, and Parmer
Contiguous Counties Eligible:
- Texas: Bailey, Childress, Dallam, Donley, Gray, Hale, Hall, Lamb, Moore, Potter, Randall, Sherman, Swisher, and Wheeler
- New Mexico: Curry, Quay, and Union
- Oklahoma: Beckham and Harmon
Resources and Next Steps
Producers can explore available disaster programs and financing options on farmers.gov using the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, the Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and the Loan Assistance Tool. To file a Notice of Loss or inquire about specific loan options, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center.
