USDA Designates 9 New Hampshire Counties as Natural Disaster Areas

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: New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts

Triggering Disaster:Drought (fast-track)

Application Deadline: May 10, 2027

Primary Counties Eligible:

• New Hampshire: Belknap, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• New Hampshire: Carroll, Grafton, Hillsborough, Sullivan

• Maine: York

• Massachusetts: Essex

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Triggering Disaster #2

Impacted Area: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont

Triggering Disaster:Freezing and extremely cold temperatures

Application Deadline: November 19, 2026

Primary Counties Eligible:

• New Hampshire: Cheshire

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• New Hampshire: Hillsborough, Sullivan

• Massachusetts: Franklin, Worcester

• Vermont: Windham

Triggering Disaster #3

Impacted Area: Massachusetts, New Hampshire

Triggering Disaster:Drought (fast-track)

Application Deadline: May 13, 2027

Primary Counties Eligible:

• Massachusetts: Middlesex

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• Massachusetts: Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Worcester

• New Hampshire: Hillsborough

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.