As of this writing, there are several Nebraska counties with a USDA natural disaster area designation. Some are primary natural disaster areas, while others are counties which are contiguous to a primary natural disaster area. A current listing of the Nebraska counties designated as a natural disaster area are below but first, what does designation as a USDA natural disaster area mean?
Producers may become eligible for a wide variety of programs. As of the date of the disaster declaration, all qualified farm operators are eligible for low interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency, assuming other eligibility requirements are met. The farm operator has eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply to help cover actual losses. Each emergency loan application is considered on its own merits; there is no guarantee of receiving funds.
Other programs that may be of use are the Emergency Conservation Program, crop insurance, and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. The Small Business Administration also administers disaster assistance loans.
In Nebraska, the following counties are currently USDA disaster areas:
| Arthur (drought) |
| Chase (drought) |
| Custer (drought) |
| Dawson (drought) |
| Deuel (drought) |
| Dundy (drought) |
| Frontier (drought) |
| Furnas (drought) |
| Garden (drought) |
| Gosper (drought) |
| Hayes (drought) |
| Hitchcock (drought) |
| Keith (drought) |
| Lincoln (drought) |
| Logan (drought) |
| McPherson (drought) |
| Perkins (drought) |
| Red Willow (drought) |
If you live in one of these counties and need help navigating your options, feel free to contact us and we’re happy to help!
Farmer and Rancher One Stop Shop 
Pingback: Updated natural disaster area declarations for Nebraska and Colorado and Kansas contiguous counties | Farmer and Rancher One Stop Shop