USDA Designates Numerous Counties in Minnesota as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

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. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for 8 or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional.

Triggering Disaster #1

Impacted Area: Wisconsin, Minnesota

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track) S6446 beginning August 11, 2026

Application Deadline: June 15, 2027

Primary Counties Eligible:

Wisconsin: St. Croix

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Wisconsin: Barron, Dunn, Pierce, Polk

Minnesota: Washington

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Triggering Disaster #2

Impacted Area: Wisconsin, Minnesota

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track) S6455 beginning August 18, 2026

Application Deadline: June 21, 2027

Primary Counties Eligible:

Wisconsin: Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Langlade, Lincoln, Polk

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Wisconsin: Burnett, Clark, Eau Claire, Forest, Marathon, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Pepin, Pierce, Price, Rust, St. Croix, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Washburn

Minnesota: Chisago, Washington

Triggering Disaster #3

Impacted Area: Minnesota

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track) S6442 beginning August 11, 2026

Application Deadline: June 21, 2027

Primary Counties Eligible:

Minnesota: Anoka, Benton, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Minnesota: Aitkin, Carver, Chisago, Crow Wing, Douglas, Hennepin, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Pine, Pope, Ramsey, Todd, Washington

Triggering Disaster #4

Impacted Area: Minnesota, North Dakota

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track) S6402 beginning August 18, 2026

Application Deadline: June 21, 2027

Primary Counties Eligible:

Minnesota: Clay, Norman, Polk

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Minnesota: Becker, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Marshall, Otter Tail, Pennington, Red Lake, Wilkin

North Dakota: Cass, Grand Forks, Richland, Traill

Triggering Disaster #5

Impacted Area: North Dakota, Minnesota

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track) S6403 beginning August 18, 2026

Application Deadline: June 21, 2027

Primary Counties Eligible:

North Dakota: Cass, Steele, Traill

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

North Dakota: Barnes, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Ransom, Richland

Minnesota: Clay, Norman, Polk

Triggering Disaster #6

Impacted Area: Minnesota, Wisconsin

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track) S6408 beginning August 25, 2026

Application Deadline: June 21, 2027

Primary Counties Eligible:

Minnesota: Carlton, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Pine, Wabasha, Washington

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Minnesota: Aitkin, Anoka, Dodge, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Olmsted, Ramsey, Rice, St. Louis, Scott, Winona

Wisconsin: Buffalo, Burnett, Douglas, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix

Triggering Disaster #7

Impacted Area: Minnesota, Wisconsin

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track) S6424 beginning July 28, 2026

Application Deadline: June 21, 2027

Primary Counties Eligible:

Minnesota: Lincoln, Morrison, Todd

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Minnesota: Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Douglas, Lyon, Mille Lacs, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Stearns, Wadena, Yellow Medicine

Wisconsin: Brookings, Deuel, Moody

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.