WASHINGTON — Maine farmers hurt by drought in 2026 can apply for federal emergency loans after the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared natural disaster areas across much of the state, a move that now makes relief available in 14 counties, the Portland Press Herald reported Nov. 2.

The Press Herald is the only news outlet so far to report this round of designations, and the 14-county figure is its own count. The federal announcements describe separate, overlapping declarations and do not give a combined total.

On Oct. 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency said Androscoggin County had been named a primary disaster area because of drought. Farmers in the bordering counties of Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford and Sagadahoc also qualify. Applications under that designation are due by June 21, 2027.

A day later, the agency said seven Maine counties had received a drought disaster designation of their own.

Both declarations were made by the secretary of agriculture and allow the Farm Service Agency to lend to farmers trying to recover. According to the agency, borrowers may put the money toward new machinery or animals, restructure how their farms are run, or pay off some existing debt. Each application is judged on the size of the losses, the collateral the farmer can put up and whether the loan can be paid back.

A county becomes eligible when the U.S. Drought Monitor shows severe drought there for at least eight straight weeks of the growing season, or when conditions reach the extreme or exceptional levels, the agency said.

Farmers can file a notice of loss or ask about programs at their local USDA Service Center, and the farmers.gov website offers tools for matching farms with loans and other aid, the agency said.

Much of Maine was also declared a drought disaster area in 2025, opening similar relief, the Press Herald reported.