USDA Designates Multiple Kentucky Counties as Primary or Contiguous Natural Disaster Areas Due to September Drought Events

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. 

Impacted Area: Kentucky.
Triggering Disaster 1: Drought (Fast Track) that occurred on September 17, 2024.
Application Deadline: May 23, 2025.
Primary Counties Eligible: Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lawrence.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:
Kentucky: Elliott, Johnson, Lewis, Martin, Morgan, Rowan.
Ohio: Lawrence, Scioto.
West Virginia: Wayne. 

Impacted Area: Indiana.
Triggering Disaster 2: Drought (Fast Track) that occurred on September 24, 2024.
Application Deadline: May 30, 2025.
Primary Counties Eligible: Dearborn, Franklin, Ripley.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:
Kentucky: Boone.
Indiana: Decatur, Fayette, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Rush, Switzerland, Union.
Ohio: Hamilton.

Impacted Area: Kentucky.
Triggering Disaster 3: Drought (Fast Track) that occurred on September 24, 2024.
Application Deadline: June 2, 2025.
Primary Counties Eligible: Anderson, Boyle, Franklin, Henry, Martin, Mercer, Owen, Shelby, Washington, Woodford.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:
Kentucky: Carroll, Casey, Fayette, Floyd, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Jefferson, Jessamine, Johnson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Nelson, Oldham, Pike, Scott, Spencer, Trimble.
West Virginia: Mingo, Wayne.

Impacted Area: Ohio.
Triggering Disaster 4: Drought (Fast Track) that occurred on September 24, 2024.
Application Deadline: June 2, 2025.
Primary Counties Eligible: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Coshocton, Hamilton.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:
Kentucky: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Pendleton.
Indiana: Dearborn, Franklin, Union.
Ohio: Clinton, Guernsey, Highland, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Montgomery, Muskingum, Pike, Preble, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Warren.

Impacted Area: Tennessee.
Triggering Disaster 5: Drought (Fast Track) that occurred on September 24, 2024.
Application Deadline: June 2, 2025.
Primary Counties Eligible: Montgomery, Robertson.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:
Kentucky: Christian, Logan, Simpson, Todd.
Tennessee: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Houston, Stewart, Sumner.

More Resources

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local  USDA Service Center.