USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought, Offering Emergency Loans to Farmers
On November 13, 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Baca and Lincoln counties in Colorado as primary natural disaster areas. This designation is a direct response to severe drought conditions experienced in these areas, which have met the criteria of D2 Drought-Severe for eight or more consecutive weeks or D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional during the growing season, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. As a result of this Secretarial natural disaster designation, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now authorized to provide emergency credit through emergency loans to agricultural producers in these counties. The designation also extends eligibility for assistance to contiguous counties in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, acknowledging the widespread impact of the drought.
