USDA Designates Six Counties in Idaho and Seven Counties in Oregon as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Qualifying Drought; Six Counties in Washington Also Eligible for Assistance

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.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for eight or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional.

Triggering Disaster 1: Drought

Impacted Area: Oregon

Application Deadline: 4/29/2024

Primary Counties Eligible: Clackamas, Douglas, Hood River, Lane, Linn, Marion, and Multnomah

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Oregon: Benton, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lincoln, Polk, Wasco, Washington, and Yamhill

Washington: Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania

Triggering Disaster 2: Drought

Impacted Area: Idaho

Application Deadline: 5/20/2024

Primary Counties Eligible: Benewah, Clearwater, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, and Nez Perce

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Idaho: Bonner, Idaho, and Shoshone

Washington: Asotin, Spokane, and Whitman

Oregon: Wallowa

Montana: Mineral and Missoula

More Resources