LINCOLN, Neb. — Twelve Nebraska counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas following prolonged drought conditions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in a letter to Gov. Jim Pillen on June 2.
The designation, made by USDA Deputy Under Secretary Brooke Appleton, comes after data from the U.S. Drought Monitor showed that the counties either endured severe drought (D2) for eight or more consecutive weeks or experienced extreme (D3) or exceptional (D4) drought levels during the growing season — thresholds that trigger federal assistance.
The affected counties include Blaine, Brown, Dawson, Deuel, Hooker, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Platte, Rock and Thomas.
This Secretarial disaster declaration allows farmers and ranchers in both primary and contiguous counties to apply for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. These loans are designed to help producers recover from losses by financing the replacement of essential assets such as livestock or equipment, covering operating expenses, or restructuring existing debt.
Eligible producers have eight months from the date of the declaration — until February 2, 2026 — to submit loan applications. Each application is evaluated on its individual merits, including the extent of production losses, available collateral, and the applicant’s ability to repay.
Producers seeking assistance are encouraged to contact their local FSA office for guidance on the application process.