The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 88 Kansas counties as primary disaster areas and 16 Kansas counties as contiguous disaster areas, making qualified farmers and ranchers in designated counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans through the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Doniphan County is the only Kansas county that did not receive a federal disaster declaration.

“We are entering the third consecutive year of a severe drought,” Kansas Governor Sam Brownback said.

“While we cannot make it rain, it is imperative for everyone to continue working together to deliver relief and assistance to drought-stricken farmers and ranchers. We commend USDA for taking swift action to extend drought relief measures. Kansas has and will continue working closely with our partners at USDA to respond to the drought and reduce its impact on farmers and ranchers.”

In order to receive a federal disaster declaration, a county must show a drought intensity value of at least D2 (Drought Severe) for eight consecutive weeks based on measurements by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Nationwide, USDA declared 597 counties in 14 states as primary disaster areas. This is the first federal disaster declaration made by USDA in 2013.