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SANTA FE, N.M., April 22, 2026—The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 21 New Mexico counties as primary natural disaster areas due to recent drought, with Santa Fe County categorized as one of seven contiguous disaster counties. A disaster designation makes farm operators in primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance, provided eligibility requirements are met.

Farmers in eligible counties have until Dec. 10, 2026 to apply for emergency loans, which is eight months from the date of the Secretarial disaster declaration. FSA considers each loan application on its own merits, considering 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.

How to Apply: Producers should contact their local FSA office to submit documentation of losses and applications.

Timing: It is advised to apply as soon as possible. The application deadline is listed as Dec. 10, 2026.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from severe, extreme, or exceptional drought conditions. 

Primary Counties in New Mexico

• Bernalillo         Hidalgo             Rio Arriba
• Catron             Lea                   Sandoval
• Chaves            Lincoln             San Juan
• Cibola              Los Alamos      Sierra
• Doña Ana        Luna                 Socorro
• Eddy                McKinley          Taos
• Grant               Otero                Valencia

Contiguous Counties in New Mexico

• Colfax               Guadalupe     Roosevelt       Torrance
• De Baca           Mora               Santa Fe          

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