USDA Designates 23 Ohio Counties as Natural Disaster Areas due to Drought

COLUMBUS, Ohio, February 3, 2026 – This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. The FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

Impacted Area: Ohio

Triggering Disaster: Drought.

Application Deadline: June 1, 2026

Primary Counties Eligible:

• Ohio: Belmont, Hancock, Henry, Monroe, Putnam, and Wood counties.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• Ohio: Allen, Defiance, Fulton, Guernsey, Hardin, Harrison, Jefferson, Lucas, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Washington, Williams, and Wyandot counties.
• West Virginia: Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel counties.

More Resources

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.