By Blake Jackson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated several Pennsylvania counties as natural disaster areas due to severe drought conditions, making eligible farmers eligible for emergency assistance through the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
The designation allows agricultural producers to apply for emergency loans to help recover from drought-related losses. These loans can be used for a variety of purposes, including replacing essential equipment or livestock, reorganizing farming operations, and refinancing certain existing debts.
Loan applications will be evaluated based on the extent of losses, available collateral, and the producer’s ability to repay.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the affected counties experienced either severe drought (D2) for at least eight consecutive weeks or reached extreme (D3) or exceptional (D4) drought levels during the growing season.
The primary counties included in the disaster designation are Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Franklin, and Fulton.
Farmers in several neighboring counties are also eligible for assistance, including Bedford, Chester, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Perry, Schuylkill, and York counties.
Eligible producers have until March 29, 2027, to apply for emergency loan assistance. Farmers seeking additional information, filing a Notice of Loss, or exploring available USDA disaster programs are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy