Skip to content
Environment & Utilities Hartford City

USDA Designates Blackford County a Drought Disaster Area

By Derek Wheeler The Blackford Ledger
USDA Designates Blackford County a Drought Disaster Area
Image might be generated by AI and not necessarily reflective of the actual subject of the article.

Federal announcement, February 5, 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated Blackford County as one of 13 primary Indiana counties eligible for emergency farm loans due to drought.

The designation, Secretarial Designation S6098, opens the door for Blackford County farmers to apply for emergency loans through August 31, 2026. The loans can be used for equipment replacement, livestock expenses, farm reorganization, or debt refinancing. Neighboring counties including Grant, Henry, and Huntington are also eligible as contiguous counties.

Blackford County farmers affected by the drought should contact the USDA Farm Service Agency before the August 31 deadline to apply.

Source: USDA Farm Service Agency news release, February 5, 2026 (fsa.usda.gov)

About our reporting: The Blackford Ledger builds its government coverage from official public records, and every report is reviewed by an editor before publication. Read our Editorial Policy & Corrections or request a correction.

TAGS: USDA drought emergency farm loans