In addition to high fertilizer and fuel costs tied to conflict in the Middle East, Mississippi farmers are suffering from a lack of rainfall, with the federal government trying to provide relief.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture informed Gov. Tate Reeves that 21 counties have been designated as “primary natural disaster areas” and 24 others as “contiguous” disaster areas due to the recent drought. In an April 10 letter to the governor, Deputy Under Secretary Brooke S. Appleton said more counties could be added to the list. For now, farmers in those impacted areas are eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loan assistance.
Primary drought-struck counties are Adams, Amite, Bolivar, Calhoun, Claiborne, Coahoma, Copiah, Franklin, Greene, Grenada, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leflore, Lincoln, Panola, Perry, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Wilkinson, and Yalobusha.
Contiguous drought-struck counties are Carroll, Chickasaw, Forrest, George, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Jones, Lawrence, Marshall, Montgomery, Pike, Pontotoc, Rankin, Simpson, Stone, Tate, Tunica, Union, Walthall, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Webster.
According to the USDA, farmers in those counties have until Dec. 10 to apply for the low-interest loans to cover production and physical losses. The loans are intended to help producers restore property, pay operating costs, and refinance debt.
“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,” Appleton wrote.
More information on the FSA emergency loan program is available online. Farmers with further questions or seeking assistance with applications are encouraged to contact their local FSA office.
Andy Gipson, the state’s agriculture commissioner, wrote on social media that he is praying for “significant rainfall soon” but expects “the drought-affected county list may grow.”
A very large portion of Mississippi is in a drought situation even at this early stage of the year. I received and am sharing a copy of the USDA’s letter designating a drought disaster in 21 primary counties in Mississippi, plus 24 contiguous counties. I encourage you to review… pic.twitter.com/mqZec65ktC
— Andy Gipson for MS (@AndyGipsonforMS) April 20, 2026
According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the state has received about half of its normal rainfall so far in 2026, ranking as the 10th driest year on record to date.
