By Office of Sen. Pete Ricketts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) disaster declaration announcement allowing farm operators from certain counties to apply for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance.
“Food security is national security, and it is essential we support our farmers and ranchers during tough seasons to ensure the continued production of our food supply,” said Senator Ricketts. “Nebraska farm operators have been struggling in the face of record-breaking drought conditions, and I encourage all eligible for the emergency assistance to apply. If our office can help you navigate the process, please reach out to us.”
The USDA announced 13 Nebraska counties as primary natural disaster areas due to the ongoing drought. The announcement also classified 31 counties as contiguous counties. This designation allows farm operators in the primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for the FSA emergency loan assistance. Farmers eligible have 8 months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans.
If you are a resident of one of these counties, have endured damages, or are unsure about your eligibility for emergency loan assistance, please visit www.farmers.gov/recover, www.ricketts.senate.gov/services or call 202-224-4224.
The primary counties include:
Custer
Knox
Saline
Valley
Dawson
Lancaster
Seward
York
Gage
Logan
Sherman
Garfield
McPhereson
The contiguous counties include:
Antelope
Cedar
Holt
Loup
Thayer
Arthur
Clay
Hooker
Otoe
Thomas
Blaine
Fillmore
Howard
Pawnee
Wheeler
Boyd
Frontier
Jefferson
Phelps
Buffalo
Gosper
Johnson
Pierce
Butler
Greeley
Keith
Polk
Cass
Hamilton
Lincoln
Saunders
