MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On Friday, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially designated 19 Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas due to the severe drought conditions experienced recently.
The counties affected by this designation are Barbour, Bibb, Butler, Chambers, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Monroe, Pickens, Pike, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa. Commissioner Pate noted that the drought has significantly impacted row crop yields and forage availability, with many cattle producers struggling to secure enough hay for the winter. This situation necessitated early reliance on supplemental alternative feed sources.
The drought has persisted for over eight weeks, with intensity varying from severe to extreme, as confirmed by the U.S. Drought Monitor. The disaster designation opens the door for farm operators in these primary and contiguous counties to be eligible for emergency loan assistance through the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
The contiguous counties that may also benefit from 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, and Wilcox. Farmers in these areas have until August 29, 2026, to apply for the emergency loans, providing them with a crucial lifeline during this challenging period.
This support is vital as Alabama’s agricultural community works to recover from the effects of the drought, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of resilience in the face of adverse weather conditions.