USDA Declares 20 Alabama Counties as Disaster Areas Due to Drought
This designation makes farmers in both primary and contiguous counties eligible for emergency loan assistance through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 20 Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas following prolonged drought conditions. An additional 18 counties have been named as contiguous disaster areas, making a total of 38 counties eligible for federal assistance.
Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate emphasized the impact of the drought, which affected more than half of the state. "The drought affected over half of the counties in Alabama," Pate said. "We encourage farmers to reach out to their local USDA offices for details about available funding."
The counties receiving the primary disaster designation are Autauga, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Dallas, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Madison, Marengo, Morgan, Perry, Sumter, Washington, Wilcox, and Winston. Contiguous counties include Baldwin, Bibb, Butler, Colbert, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman, Elmore, Jackson, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Pickens, Shelby, Tuscaloosa, and Walker.
This designation makes farmers in both primary and contiguous counties eligible for emergency loan assistance through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Applications will be accepted for eight months following the declaration on March 25, 2025. Loan approvals will be based on factors such as the extent of losses, available collateral, and the applicant’s ability to repay.
Farmers seeking more details on financial assistance and eligibility requirements can visit their local USDA office or explore loan programs through the FSA’s website at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs. To find the nearest USDA Service Center, visit https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator.
For the official announcement, visit the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries at https://agi.alabama.gov/2025/04/usda-designates-20-alabama-counties-as-primary-natural-disaster-areas.
