By David Marrison, OSU Extension Field Specialist- Farm Management
Farm operations in 15 Ohio counties are eligible to apply for emergency credit through the U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Farm Loan program. These 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 the refinance of certain debts.
The Emergency loan program is triggered when a natural disaster is designated by the Secretary of Agriculture or a natural disaster or emergency is declared by the President of the United States under the Stafford Act. These loans help producers who suffer qualifying farm related losses directly caused by the disaster in a county declared or designated as a primary disaster. In addition, farmers located in counties that are contiguous to the primary designated county may also qualify for this loan program.
Ohio Counties Eligible:
A declaration was made for Brown and Clermont Counties on November 4, 2022 with the following contiguous counties eligible: Adams, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland and Warren Counties. This declaration was made for excessive rainfall that occurred from May 1 to June 16, 2022. The application deadline for these counties is May 29, 2023.
A declaration was made for Licking County on February 9, 2023 with the following contiguous counties eligible: Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, Muskingum, and Perry. This declaration was made for excessive rainfall and moisture that occurred from April 1 to September 15, 2022. The application deadline for these counties is August 21, 2023.
More Resources
More information about the Emergency Loan program can be found at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/2019/emergency-loan-program.pdf
Additional information can be obtained by contacting your local USDA Service Center.