WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated two Pennsylvania counties along with a number of New York counties as primary natural disaster areas.

Producers in who suffered losses caused by recent natural disasters may be eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.

These natural disaster designations allow FSA to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts.

Producers who suffered losses from the freeze and frost from April to June 2020, in the counties of Cattaraugus in New York or McKean or Warren in Pennsylvania, are eligible to apply for emergency loans.

Producers in Potter and Tioga counties in Pennsylvania who suffered losses caused by a freeze that occurred between April 15 and June 1 may be eligible for emergency loans.

The deadline to apply for emergency loans under this designation is Sept. 15.

FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.

FSA has a variety of additional programs to help farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster. Farmers may contact their local USDA service center for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs.