USDA Declares 22 Ohio Counties as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Severe Drought

Farmers in affected counties can apply for emergency federal loans to mitigate crop damage and economic losses.

The USDA's designation allows farmers in 22 counties and 18 neighboring counties to apply for emergency loans.
Southeastern Ohio, including Athens and Belmont counties, has faced eight or more weeks of severe drought.
Emergency loans can help farmers recover from production and physical losses, with borrowing limits up to $500,000.
This is the first time in Ohio history that Athens and Meigs counties have faced exceptional drought conditions.
The drought is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather affecting agricultural regions across the United States.