Residents of 157 counties in the Lone Star State are now eligible for low-interest emergency loans after being designated as natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has named 597 counties in 14 states as disaster areas due to drought and heat.
“As drought persists, USDA will continue to partner with producers to see them through longer-term recovery, while taking the swift actions needed to help farmers and ranchers prepare their land and operations for the upcoming planting season,” Vilsack said. “I will also continue to work with Congress to encourage passage of a Food, Farm and Jobs bill that gives rural America the long-term certainty they need, including a strong and defensible safety net.”
The 597 counties named by Vilsack all registered as under a severe drought for eight consecutive weeks based on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Those interested in the emergency loans are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency office.