Emergency loans available for local farmers impacted by drought conditions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has made Arkansas farmers and ranchers in a number of counties eligible for emergency loans under a drought disaster declaration.

The primary eligible counties within Southwest Arkansas are Sevier, Little River, Hempstead and Nevada Counties. IA total of 20 counties in Arkansas are eligible for emergency federal loans under the drought disaster declaration. In addition, 11 neighboring counties are also eligible, including Howard, Polk and Pike.

The Emergency loan program is triggered when a natural disaster is designated by the Secretary of Agriculture or a natural disaster or emergency is declared by the President under the Stafford Act. These loans help producers who suffer qualifying farm related losses directly caused by the disaster in a county declared or designated as a primary disaster or quarantine area. Also, farmers located in counties that are contiguous to the declared, designated, or quarantined area may qualify for Emergency loans.

The deadline to apply for an emergency loan is Dec. 8.

For more information as well as application forms, visit the Farm Service Agency website at www.fsa.usda.gov or contact your nearest Farm Service Agency. Residents of Sevier and Polk Counties can call the De Queen-based Farm Service Agency at (870) 584-3111. Residents of Little River and Howard Counties can call the Texarkana-based Farm Service Agency at (870) 330-3134.