By Scout Nelson
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has named Golden Valley County in North Dakota a natural disaster area due to severe drought. This important designation opens access to emergency support through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Farmers and ranchers in Golden Valley County now qualify for emergency loans that can help them recover from major drought-related losses. These loans are available for needs like replacing essential equipment or livestock, reorganizing farm operations, and refinancing existing debt. Each loan request is reviewed carefully based on how much the producer lost, what security is available, and whether the borrower can repay the loan.
The designation is based on data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. The drought reached D2 (severe drought) levels for more than eight weeks or worsened to D3 (extreme) or D4 (exceptional) levels during the growing season. These conditions seriously hurt crop growth and livestock health, putting farm operations at risk.
In addition to Golden Valley County, farmers in nearby counties also qualify for support. In North Dakota, this includes Billings, McKenzie, and Slope counties. In Montana, Fallon and Wibaux counties are eligible because they border Golden Valley.
Farmers must apply for assistance before the deadline of February 2, 2026. For more information, farmers can use tools on farmers.gov, including the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool and Loan Assistance Tool. They can also visit their local USDA Service Center to file a Notice of Loss or ask questions about available help.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-dleonis
Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Government & Policy, Livestock