USDA Declares 19 Alabama Counties as Primary Disaster Areas
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 19 counties in Alabama as primary natural disaster areas due to severe drought conditions. This announcement was made by Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture, Rick Pate.
Counties Affected by the Drought
The following counties have been identified as primary disaster areas:
- Barbour
- Bibb
- Butler
- Chambers
- Coffee
- Conecuh
- Covington
- Crenshaw
- Dale
- Escambia
- Geneva
- Henry
- Houston
- Lee
- Monroe
- Pickens
- Pike
- Shelby
- Tuscaloosa
Impact of the Drought
The drought has significantly impacted agricultural production in these counties. Row-crop yields and forage availability have been severely affected. Many cattle producers reported difficulties in harvesting adequate hay for winter, leading them to seek alternative feed sources earlier in the season.
Drought Intensity
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the affected counties experienced drought conditions for more than eight weeks. The severity ranged from severe to extreme, and even exceptional levels.
Emergency Assistance for Farmers
The USDA’s disaster designation enables farm operators in the specified counties, as well as contiguous counties, to apply for emergency loan assistance through the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The contiguous counties eligible for this assistance include:
- Baldwin
- Bullock
- Chilton
- Clarke
- Colbert
- Coosa
- Fayette
- Franklin
- Greene
- Hale
- Jefferson
- Lamar
- Lauderdale
- Lowndes
- Macon
- Montgomery
- Perry
- Randolph
- Russell
- St. Clair
- Sumter
- Talladega
- Tallapoosa
- Walker
- Wilcox
Farmers in these areas have until August 29, 2026, to apply for these emergency loans, providing them some financial relief amid the challenging conditions.
