| WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD (April 28, 2026) – The Washington County Office of Emergency Management is notifying local agricultural producers that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated multiple Maryland jurisdictions, including Washington County, as natural disaster areas due to drought conditions. This designation allows eligible farmers to apply for federal assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). The designation includes the following Maryland counties: Allegany, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia. Producers in several neighboring states, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, may also qualify under contiguous county eligibility. Through this Secretarial disaster designation, the USDA Farm Service Agency may provide emergency loans to help producers recover from drought-related losses. These loans may be used to: Replace essential equipment or livestockReorganize farming operationsRefinance certain debts All applications are subject to review based on the extent of losses, available collateral, and repayment ability. The designation is based on drought intensity levels identified by the U.S. Drought Monitor, including severe, extreme, or exceptional drought conditions during the growing season. The deadline to apply for assistance is December 10, 2026. Producers can begin the application process, access required forms, and explore available programs by visiting Farmers.gov (https://www.farmers.gov/recover/disaster-assistance), using the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool (https://www.farmers.gov/disaster-assistance/discover), or by contacting their local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Center (https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app) for assistance with completing and submitting documentation. Producers seeking additional information are encouraged to use these USDA resources or contact their local USDA Service Center to file a Notice of Loss or receive guidance on available programs. |
| For additional information, please contact Washington County’s Public Relations and Marketing Department at 240-313-2380 or [email protected]. ### |
