USDA Designates PR County, Multiple Others As Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Washington, D.C. October 24, 2024 -

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed 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.

Impacted Area 1: Montana

Triggering Disaster: Wildfires

Application Deadline: 6/16/2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Big Horn, Powder River and Rosebud

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Montana: Carbon, Carter, Custer, Garfield, Musselshell, Petroleum, Treasure and Yellowstone

Wyoming: Big Horn, Campbell, Crook and Sheridan

Impacted Area 2: Wyoming

Triggering Disaster 2: Wildfires

Application Deadline: 6/16/2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Albany, Converse, Crook, Goshen, Hot Springs, Johnson, Platte, Sheridan and Weston

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Colorado: Jackson and Larimer

Montana: Big Horn, Carter and Powder River

Nebraska: Banner, Scotts Bluff and Sioux

South Dakota: Butte, Custer, Lawrence and Pennington

Wyoming: Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Fremont, Laramie, Natrona, Niobrara, Park and Washakie

More Resources:

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.