A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary parishes and those areas contiguous to such primary parishes eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance, provided eligibility requirements are met.

Webster Parish joins several others in eligibility.

Farmers in eligible areas have 8 months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability of the operator. 

Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with further information. 

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast-Track) beginning February 3, 2026 
Application Deadline: December 24, 2026 
Primary Counties Eligible: 
• Louisiana: Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Jefferson, Richland, St. Martin, Vernon, and Webster parishes 
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. 
FEMA offers different assistance programs for individual citizens, public groups including government agencies and private nonprofit organizations. To find the FEMA help you need following a disaster event, visit fema.gov/assistance.