USDA declares natural disaster in 12 Nebraska counties due to drought

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The federal government declared a natural disaster in 12 Nebraska counties on Tuesday because of drought.

The designation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture means farmers in the affected counties could be eligible for emergency loans.

They can use that money to replace equipment or livestock or to refinance some debts.

The Farm Service Agency will review applications for loans based on the extent of losses and other factors.

Butler, Fillmore, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Hayes, Hitchcock, Phelps, Polk, Red Willow, Seward and York counties are the 12 disaster areas.

Farmers in the twenty-one Nebraska and three Kansas counties neighboring the disaster areas could also be eligible for aid.

Those include Buffalo, Lancaster and Saline.

The USDA designated 12 other Nebraska counties as disaster areas last month.