Following prolonged severe dry conditions across the region, agricultural producers in parts of Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma are now eligible to apply for emergency financial assistance through the United States Department of Agriculture.
The USDA Farm Service Agency has officially opened emergency loan applications following a Secretarial natural disaster designation triggered by persistent drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the qualifying areas experienced severe drought conditions (D2) for at least eight consecutive weeks, or reached extreme (D3) to exceptional (D4) drought levels during the growing season.
These low-interest emergency loans are designed to give producers immediate breathing room to rebuild and stabilize their operations. Funds can be put toward replacing vital equipment or lost livestock, reorganizing day-to-day farm operations, or refinancing eligible debts. Each application submitted to the FSA will be evaluated based on the borrower’s repayment ability, available loan security, and the documented extent of drought-related losses.
Producers have until May 27, 2027, to complete and submit their applications.
Eligible Counties
- Primary Arkansas Counties: Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian
- Contiguous Arkansas Counties: Johnson, Logan, Madison, Scott, and Washington
- Contiguous Oklahoma Counties: Adair, Le Flore, and Sequoyah
Producers interested in exploring emergency credit and other relief opportunities can find helpful self-service resources at farmers.gov, including the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, the Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and the Loan Assistance Tool. To begin an application, file a Notice of Loss, or get one-on-one guidance, contact your local USDA Service Center.
