Mono County Included in USDA Disaster Designation; Assistance Available for Agricultural Producers

MONO COUNTY, Calif. (April 21, 2026) - Mono County has been designated as a contiguous disaster area by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to agricultural losses caused by ongoing drought conditions impacting California.

The designation follows a Secretarial disaster declaration issued on April 6, 2026, which identified Inyo, Riverside, and San Diego counties as primary disaster areas. Mono County's inclusion makes local agricultural producers eligible for federal disaster assistance programs.

The drought event began on October 1, 2025, meeting federal thresholds for severe to exceptional drought conditions during the growing season.

Assistance Available

Eligible farmers and ranchers in Mono County may apply for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance to help recover from drought-related losses. Producers have eight months from April 6, 2026 to apply, with a deadline of December 7, 2026.

Emergency loans may be used to:

• Restore or replace essential property
• Cover production costs associated with the disaster year
• Refinance certain debts
• Support essential family living expenses

Each application is evaluated individually based on losses and repayment ability.

Local Contact Information

Mono County agricultural producers are encouraged to contact the nearest USDA service office:

Bishop Field Office

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

(760) 872-6111

270 N See Vee Ln, Suite 6

Bishop, CA 93514

Mikhala Bornstein

[email protected]

County officials are working with local, state, and federal partners to ensure impacted producers are aware of available resources and support.

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