Farmers in Smith County and those in the surrounding east Texas region may be eligible for emergency loans from the US Department of Agriculture for growers recovering from natural disasters until August.

USDA is considering loans for growers in 23 drought-stricken Texas counties including Camp, Hopkins, Titus, Wood, Franklin, Knox, Upshur, Baylor, Harrison, Marion, Smith, Delta, Haskell, Morris, Stonewall, Foard, Hunt, Rains, Throckmorton, Gregg, King, Red River and Van Zandt counties.

“According to the US Drought Monitor, these counties suffered a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for 8 consecutive weeks or more or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional . ”a USDA statement said.

A USDA D1 drought classification describes droughts with unusually dry conditions with short-term drought and “persistent water deficits,” according to the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Droughts classified as D3 or D4 generally show signs of severe to widespread crop losses and water shortages or emergencies.

“Emergency loans can be used to meet a variety of recovery needs, including replacing essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganizing a farm or refinancing certain debts. The FSA will review loans based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment capacity. The statement said.

Producers can apply for the loan from www.farmers.gov/protection-recovery/disaster-tool. Farmers can learn more about emergency loans by contacting a USDA service center at www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator.