By Scout Nelson
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated eight Wyoming counties as primary natural disaster areas due to ongoing drought conditions. This designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to provide emergency loan assistance to agricultural producers who experience losses caused by the disaster.
The drought designation is based on information from the U.S. Drought Monitor. The affected counties experience severe drought conditions for at least 8 consecutive weeks or face extreme to exceptional drought levels during the growing season. These conditions create significant challenges for farmers and ranchers who depend on stable weather for crop and livestock production.
The primary counties eligible for assistance in Wyoming are Campbell, Converse, Goshen, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston. Producers in these counties may apply for emergency loans through the FSA to help recover from drought-related losses.
Emergency loans may be used for several recovery needs. Eligible producers can use the funds to replace essential equipment, livestock, or other farm assets damaged by drought conditions. The loans may also help reorganize farm operations or refinance certain existing debts. Loan applications are reviewed based on the level of loss, available security, and the producer’s ability to repay the loan.
In addition to the primary counties, several neighboring counties also qualify for assistance because they border the designated disaster areas. Eligible contiguous counties include Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Crook, Natrona, Sheridan, and Washakie in Wyoming. Additional eligible counties are Larimer and Weld in Colorado, Powder River in Montana, Banner, Kimball, Scotts Bluff, and Sioux in Nebraska, and Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, and Pennington in South Dakota.
The application deadline for emergency loan assistance is January 19, 2027. Producers affected by drought are encouraged to contact their local FSA office to learn more about eligibility requirements and available support programs.
This designation provides important financial assistance for agricultural operations facing difficult conditions and helps support recovery efforts in rural communities impacted by drought.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: South Dakota, Government & Policy, Weather