WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 107 counties across seven states as natural disaster areas due to prolonged drought conditions, making agricultural producers eligible for federal emergency assistance.
The designation, issued through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency under Secretarial Disaster Declaration S6160, enables affected farmers and ranchers to apply for emergency loans to support recovery efforts. These loans may be used to replace essential equipment or livestock, reorganize farming operations, or refinance certain debts.
The disaster declaration stems from drought conditions that began Nov. 1, 2025. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, impacted counties experienced either severe drought for at least eight consecutive weeks or extreme to exceptional drought intensity during the growing season.
Primary counties eligible for assistance are located throughout Arkansas, which accounts for the majority of the designated areas. Additional impacted states include Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
In Louisiana, six parishes — Claiborne, East Carroll, Morehouse, Union, Webster and West Carroll — were designated as contiguous disaster areas, making producers in those regions also eligible for emergency loan assistance.
The USDA said loan applications will be evaluated based on the extent of production losses, available collateral and applicants’ ability to repay. The deadline to apply for emergency loans is Dec. 7, 2026.
The designation provides a key financial lifeline for agricultural producers facing reduced yields, livestock stress and other operational disruptions tied to ongoing drought conditions.
Additional tools and resources are available through USDA’s online platforms, including disaster assistance and loan guidance for affected producers. Farmers can also contact local USDA Service Centers to file a notice of loss or obtain more information about available programs.