Seven Louisiana parishes have been included in a USDA drought disaster declaration.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack designated 213 Texas counties as primary disaster area due to drought and related adversities. Seven Louisiana parishes that are contiguous to the Texas counties are included in the declaration. The parishes are Beauregard, Caddo, DeSoto, Sabine, Vernon, Calcasieu and Cameron.

Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said the disaster designation makes farm operators in the primary counties and contiguous parishes eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program.

Farmers in the eligible parishes have eight months from the June 24 declaration date to apply for the emergency loan assistance.

Farm operators should contact their local FSA office for more information.