Emergency loans for farmers, ranchers, and operators are available through the Panola County Office of the Farm Service Agency, as a result of a disaster declaration by the USDA August 18, according to Gerald G. Booker, FSA Farm Loan Manager, of Batesville.
A major disaster was declared in Mississippi as a result of a growing season drought.
Panola County has been designated a primary natural disaster area eligible for Federal Disaster assistance. Applications for assistance in the disaster-stricken county will be accepted by FSA through April 18, 2017.
Farmers qualifying for emergency loans may borrow up to 100 percent of their actual production loss or the amount needed to restore their operation to its pre-disaster condition, whichever is less.  
The new emergency loan and outstanding principal balance of any existing emergency loan owed by the applicant or any individual member of an entity cannot exceed $500,000.00.
FSA emergency loans cover losses from designated disasters and are made to qualified farmers who cannot obtain credit from other lenders in the local area.