USDA Urges Farmers to Report Flood and Derecho Losses — Emergency Loans Await Major Disaster Declaration
From USDA Farm Service Agency reporting, August 18, 2026
The USDA Farm Service Agency is urging Indiana farmers to report all flood and derecho damage to their local FSA offices as the agency works to assess the scope of agricultural losses from the August 11 storms.
Steve Brown, Indiana FSA State Executive Director, said the agency is "still evaluating" crop and physical losses and expects reports by approximately August 25. He urged farmers to document everything with timestamped photos and videos.
Emergency loan programs are available but cannot be activated until a major disaster designation is issued by either the Secretary of Agriculture or the president — the current emergency declaration is not sufficient. Once activated, available programs include livestock loss assistance, honeybee loss programs, and emergency loans. Reports from across the state include cows drowning and honeybee colony losses from flooding.
For Blackford County farmers who experienced crop, livestock, or structural losses, reporting to the local FSA office now is critical — even though the emergency loan programs are not yet available.
Source: 1010 WCSI / Hoosier Ag Today (Aug 18, 2026)
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