San Antonio Corridor News

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz was recently notified that Karnes and Live Oak Counties in the 15th Congressional District of Texas have been declared primary federal natural disaster areas due to the recent drought. Jim Wells and Wilson Counties were designated as contiguous natural disaster areas. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the declaration on Thursday, August 28, 2023. A total of 22 counties in Texas were included in the disaster declaration.

A disaster declaration resulting from drought makes farmers in the eligible counties eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. The following is important information for applicants:

• Deadline to apply: Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for an emergency loan.

• FSA's consideration of applications: FSA will consider each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the following factors:
  • The extent of production losses on the farm;

  • The security available to repay the loan; and

  • The repayment ability of the operator.

Original source can be found here.