Quick take
- USDA designated Lincoln, East Carroll, West Carroll and Beauregard parishes as primary natural disaster areas because of drought that began March 3, 2026, the Farm Service Agency announced Oct. 28.
- Farmers in neighboring parishes also qualify, including Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland and Union, along with Chicot County in Arkansas and Newton County in Texas, among others.
- Eligible farmers can be considered for Farm Service Agency emergency loans. FSA weighs each application on the farm’s production losses and the operator’s ability to repay. The deadline is June 21, 2027.
- To apply or ask questions, contact your local USDA Service Center.
This year’s drought is now an official disaster for farmers in Lincoln Parish, and that opens the door to emergency loans for farmers across much of northeast Louisiana.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency announced Wednesday, Oct. 28, that Lincoln, East Carroll, West Carroll and Beauregard parishes are primary natural disaster areas because of drought that began March 3, 2026. KTVE also reported the designation.
Who qualifies
Farmers in the four primary parishes can be considered for help, and so can farmers in neighboring counties and parishes. Among those close to home are Ouachita, Union, Morehouse, Richland, Jackson, Bienville and Claiborne parishes, plus Chicot County, Arkansas, and Newton County, Texas. The full list is in the USDA announcement.
What help is available
Eligible farmers can apply for Farm Service Agency emergency loans. FSA looks at each application on its own, based on how much production the farm lost and whether the operator can repay, the agency says.
The deadline to apply is June 21, 2027. Local FSA offices and USDA Service Centers can answer questions and take a Notice of Loss. Tools to check loan and program options are at farmers.gov.