Agricultural producers in Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Goliad, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio and Victoria counties in Texas, who suffered losses and damages due to recent drought, may be eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. Producers in the contiguous counties of DeWitt, Jackson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Live Oak and Matagorda in Texas are also eligible to apply for emergency loans. Producers in these designated primary and contiguous counties will have until March 4, 2019, to apply for emergency loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

Agricultural producers in Dimmit, La Salle and Webb counties in Texas, who suffered losses and damages due to recent drought, may be eligible to apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. Producers in the contiguous counties of Atascosa, Duval, Frio, Jim Hogg, McMullen, Maverick, Zapata and Zavala are also eligible to apply for emergency loans. Producers in these designated primary and contiguous counties will have until March 18, 2019, to apply for emergency loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster.

Other FSA programs that can provide assistance, but do not require a disaster declaration, include: Operating and Farm Ownership Loans; the Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program; and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA service centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available at https://www.farmers.gov/recover.

Sources: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/emergency-designations/2018/ed_2018_0731_rel_0116 | https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/emergency-designations/2018/ed_2018_0731_rel_0106