By Blake Jackson
Following a Presidential disaster declaration, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now authorized to offer emergency loans to Missouri producers recovering from the May 16, 2025, severe storms, straight‑line winds, tornadoes, and flooding (Disaster M4877).
These low‑interest loans provide critical working capital for farmers who suffered losses, allowing them to replace essential equipment or livestock, restructure their operations, or refinance qualifying debt incurred during recovery.
Each application will be judged individually, with FSA weighing the extent of damages, available collateral, and projected repayment capacity.
Two Missouri counties-St. Louis and Scott have been designated as primary disaster areas. Producers in seven neighboring counties Cape Girardeau, Franklin, Jefferson, Mississippi, New Madrid, St. Charles, and Stoddard also qualify because of their contiguous status. Eligible producers must submit loan requests no later than February 9, 2026.
Producers unsure of the assistance that best fits their situation can use several online tools at Farmers.gov, including the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, the Disaster Assistance‑at‑a‑Glance fact sheet, and the Loan Assistance Tool.
Reporting a Notice of Loss or obtaining personal guidance on programs and eligibility is as simple as calling or visiting the USDA Service Center that serves your county.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: Missouri, Government & Policy, Weather