Twenty-four Iowa counties were designated as a primary natural disaster area due to recent drought conditions. This according to an April 1 letter from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack to Governor Kim Reynolds. 

Primary counties include Washington, Iowa, and Johnson, while contiguous counties include Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, and Louisa. Farmers in these counties may seek Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance, provided eligibility requirements are met. They have eight months from Monday’s declaration to apply for such a loan. 

These 24 counties have been affected by drought conditions dating back to last year. The designation applies to those that have faced the three-highest drought intensity values for eight or more consecutive weeks. Despite recent precipitation alleviating some of these conditions, extreme drought is still seen in Iowa and Johnson counties, while severe drought is present in Washington and Keokuk counties. 

To find a Farm Service Agency near you, click here.