By Blake Jackson
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides emergency loans to producers in areas affected by natural disasters through a Secretarial disaster designation. These loans are intended to help farmers recover from losses caused by events such as drought, extreme heat, or other severe conditions.
Funds can be used to replace essential items like equipment or livestock, reorganize farm operations, or refinance certain debts. FSA evaluates loan applications based on the extent of losses, available collateral, and the applicant’s repayment ability.
Several counties in New York have been designated for emergency assistance due to drought and heat conditions. Essex County is eligible under a Drought designation, with a deadline of August 31, 2026, while contiguous counties including Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington also qualify.
Additional drought designations cover Clinton and Essex counties, and a combined drought and heat designation applies to Clinton, Rensselaer, and Washington counties, with an application deadline of September 29, 2026.
Producers seeking assistance or needing to file a Notice of Loss should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn about available programs and application requirements.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: New York, Government & Policy, Weather