USDA Designates Colorado Counties (S5997) as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought (Fast-Track)

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.

Triggering Disaster #1 (S5997)

Impacted Area: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track)

Application Deadline: 02/02/2026

Primary County Eligible:

• Colorado: Montezuma

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• Arizona: Apache

• Colorado: Dolores, La Plata, and San Juan.

• New Mexico: San Juan

• Utah: San Juan

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.