3 Alabama Counties Designated as Natural Disaster Areas

In the wake of a devastating drought, three Alabama counties—Dallas, Perry, and Wilcox—have been designated as primary natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This designation, made by USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack, will provide much-needed relief to farmers struggling with the financial impacts of the drought.

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According to Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate, this drought hit these regions at a particularly challenging time—during the peak of the growing season. "The drought hit farmers in this part of the state during the peak of growing season. We hope this disaster relief from USDA will ease some of the financial burdens,” Commissioner Pate said. “We encourage farmers to reach out to their local USDA offices for details about available funding.”

Affected Counties

The primary counties that have been designated as natural disaster areas include:

• Dallas
• Perry
• Wilcox

Additionally, nine contiguous counties are included in the relief efforts. These counties are:

• Autauga
• Bibb
• Butler
• Chilton
• Clark
• Hale
• Lowndes
• Marengo
• Monroe

Together, this brings the total number of counties in Alabama affected by the disaster designation to 12.

What Does This Mean for Farmers?

Farm operators in these primary and contiguous counties are now eligible for emergency loan assistance through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided they meet eligibility requirements. This includes farmers who have suffered significant production losses due to the drought.

The emergency loan assistance can help farmers recover from the losses by providing financial support to cover essential operating expenses, repair or replace equipment, and recover losses not covered by insurance.

Farmers have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration (September 18, 2024) to apply for these emergency loans, so time is of the essence. Each loan application will be reviewed individually, taking into account the extent of the losses, the operator’s ability to repay, and available collateral.

How to Apply and Learn More

Farmers interested in applying for assistance or who want to learn more about the available programs can visit the USDA’s website for information about Farm Loan Programs: Farm Loan Programs.

To find the nearest USDA Service Center and get personalized help with the application process, visit the USDA Service Center Locator: Service Center Locator.

Understanding the Drought

The drought that triggered these disaster declarations has had a significant impact on crops across Alabama. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, affected counties experienced a drought intensity value of D2 (Severe Drought) for eight or more consecutive weeks, or D3 (Extreme Drought) or D4 (Exceptional Drought) conditions during the growing season.

The USDA Disaster Designation means that eligible farmers can now access financial assistance to help mitigate some of the damages caused by the drought. This assistance will hopefully allow farmers to recover and rebuild as they move forward.

For Alabama farmers facing the tough aftermath of this drought, help is available. Don’t wait—reach out to your local USDA office today to explore your options and apply for emergency loan assistance. Together, we can weather the storm and continue supporting our state’s vital agricultural community. 🌾