Perry County farm operators may be eligible for emergency loan assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after 30 Alabama counties were designated as primary natural disaster areas due to drought.
Perry County was listed as a contiguous disaster county in the designation, which makes producers eligible for the same Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan programs available to farmers in the 30 primary counties.
Nearby counties receiving primary designations include:
- Hale County
- Greene County
- Lowndes County
- Macon County
- Marengo County
- Wilcox County
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins issued the disaster declaration after the U.S. Drought Monitor confirmed the affected counties experienced:
- Severe drought for at least eight consecutive weeks, or
- Extreme to exceptional drought during the growing season
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate encouraged producers to contact their local USDA office to learn more about available assistance.
Emergency loans can be used to:
- Replace essential equipment or livestock
- Reorganize a farming operation
- Refinance certain debts
Eligible farmers have until December 7, 2026, to apply.
To explore programs or verify eligibility, visit fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs.
Producers can locate their nearest USDA Service Center at farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator.
