USDA designates 11 Washington counties as natural disaster areas

The U.D. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 11 counties in Washington as natural disaster areas for excessive heat. The designation allows USDA’s Farm Service Agency to extend 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.

The primary counties are Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Walla Walla, and Yakima counties. The contiguous Washington counties of Columbia, Ferry, King, Lewis, Lincoln, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Whatcom, and Whitman, and the Oregon counties of Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, and Wasco are also eligible. Application deadline is Nov. 14, 2024.