ALEXANDRIA, La. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a range of financial and technical assistance programs to help Louisiana farmers, ranchers and livestock producers recover from drought conditions that have affected agricultural operations across the state.
USDA officials said ongoing drought has strained crop production, grazing land, water supplies and livestock operations, prompting the agency to encourage producers to report losses and explore available relief programs through local USDA Service Centers.
Among the key assistance programs available is the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, which provides payments to eligible livestock producers who experienced grazing losses due to drought on privately owned or leased land. Producers seeking assistance must submit acreage reports for affected grazing land and file applications for 2026 losses by March 1, 2027. Louisiana’s next annual acreage reporting deadline is July 15, 2026.
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program also offers compensation for above-normal costs associated with hauling water and feed to livestock and transporting animals to alternative grazing areas. The program additionally supports commercial beekeepers facing feed shortages caused by drought conditions. Applications for 2026 losses are due by March 1, 2027.
Orchardists and nursery tree growers may qualify for cost-share assistance through the Tree Assistance Program to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by drought. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster event or when losses become apparent.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency also provides direct and guaranteed farm loans, including emergency loans for producers in counties with primary or contiguous disaster designations. The financing can be used to replace damaged property, purchase livestock and farm inputs, cover operating expenses and refinance certain farm-related debt.
Producers covered under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program are required to report crop losses within specified deadlines, while those with federal crop insurance should notify their insurance agents within 72 hours of discovering damage and provide written documentation within 15 days.
In addition to disaster payments and loans, USDA is offering conservation-related assistance. The Emergency Conservation Program can help fund emergency water conservation measures, while the Emergency Forest Restoration Program provides financial support for restoring damaged private forestland.
The agency also noted that emergency and non-emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acreage may be authorized in drought-affected areas to provide additional forage for livestock producers.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is encouraging producers to adopt conservation practices that improve soil health and water management to reduce future drought-related losses. Financial assistance for qualifying projects may be available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
The agency said eligibility for several drought assistance programs is determined using data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, a weekly map that tracks drought conditions across the country. The monitor is also used to support disaster designations that can provide affected producers access to emergency loan programs.
Additional information on USDA drought assistance programs and recovery resources is available through local USDA Service Centers and the agency’s online producer assistance tools.