Drought Hit Wyoming Farmers Get USDA Support

USDA Extends Emergency Loan Aid to Ten Drought Declared Counties in Wyoming

The USDA has declared ten counties in Wyoming as primary natural disaster areas following prolonged drought conditions that started on January 1, 2025. This move allows farmers to apply for emergency loans through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to support their recovery.

The drought has significantly impacted the growing season with counties experiencing D2 (Severe Drought) for eight or more weeks or facing D3 (Extreme) or D4 (Exceptional) drought levels. These conditions have led to major agricultural losses in the region.

The primary counties eligible include Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Fremont, Hot Springs, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sublette, and Washakie. Farmers in contiguous counties in nearby states—such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Utah—may also be eligible for support.

These emergency loans can help farmers replace essential items, restructure operations, or refinance debts. FSA will assess each loan based on damage levels, collateral, and the borrower's ability to repay.

The deadline to apply is November 25, 2025.

“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.”

Farmers can access helpful tools like the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool and Loan Assistance Tool on farmers.gov. For filing a Notice of Loss or understanding available programs, they should contact their local USDA Service Center.

This designation aims to offer timely relief and help agricultural communities rebuild and continue food production effectively.